Tehran has sent a note to Washington via Qatar that it will no longer exercise “unilateral self-restraint” when it comes to Israel, Al Jazeera has reported, quoting an Iranian source.
The message came as West Jerusalem has threatened a “harsh response” to Tuesday’s barrage of Iranian missiles, which Tehran described as reprisal for the deaths of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders at Israel’s hands.
Iran informed the US that “the phase of unilateral self-restraint has ended,” since that failed to safeguard Tehran’s national security requirements, the anonymous source told Al Jazeera on Thursday.
Tehran does not want a regional war but any attack by Israel will be met with an “unconventional response” that includes targeting Israeli infrastructure, according to the Qatar-based outlet.
Meanwhile, the Iranian mission to the UN has issued a statement putting other countries on notice should they aid any Israeli strike on Iran.
”Our response will be solely directed at the aggressor. Should any country render assistance to the aggressor, it should likewise be deemed an accomplice and a legitimate target,” the mission said. “We advise countries to refrain from entangling themselves in the conflict between the Israeli regime and Iran and to distance themselves from the fray.”
At least 180 missiles of various kinds were fired at Israel on Tuesday evening. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed to have shot down most of them, but video evidence showed multiple impacts all over Israel, including property damage to several military facilities.
Amir Saied Iravani, Tehran’s envoy to the UN, told the Security Council on Wednesday that the strike was self-defense in line with Article 51 of the UN Charter and that Iran was “fully prepared to take further defensive measures if necessary.”
On Wednesday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian accused Israel of wanting to “cause insecurity and spread crisis in the region,” which Tehran opposes. However, he said, “any type of military attack, terrorist act or crossing our red lines will be met with a decisive response by our armed forces.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to “exact a heavy price from the ayatollahs’ regime,” the Tel Aviv-based Channel 12 reported on Tuesday. The “harsh response” is being closely coordinated with the US and is expected to come “within days,” the outlet said.
US President Joe Biden told reporters that he was discussing with Israel the possibility of strikes on Iranian oil sites.