Iran Once Again Warns of ‘Decisive Response’ to Israel

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Iran's foreign ministry issued a stern warning on Monday, vowing a "decisive response" to Israel's recent airstrikes on Iranian territory, which targeted military facilities, including air defense systems, on October 26.

The strikes on October 26, targeted Iranian military facilities, including air defenses, following missile attacks on Israel by Iran earlier that month.

"In defending our territorial integrity and sovereignty, we seek no one's permission, and any aggression will undoubtedly be met with a decisive response," Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmail Baghaei said Monday during his weekly briefing, The Caspian Post reports, citing Iranian media.

He also reaffirmed Iran’s support for regional militia groups, underscoring Tehran’s broader strategy in the region amidst ongoing hostilities.

Baghaei also said that the country's nuclear facilities must be protected from any potential attacks by Israel, in compliance with a resolution adopted more than three decades ago by the UN nuclear watchdog, the IAEA.

There is no UN Security Council resolution that bans attacks on nuclear facilities, but the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) did adopt General Conference Resolution (GC(XXXIV)/RES/533) in 1990 that prohibits armed attacks on nuclear facilities, "devoted to peaceful purposes." The resolution also calls for strengthening international cooperation on nuclear safety and radiological protection.

"This resolution is a clear rule that prohibits any threats against nuclear facilities," Baghaei said, but did not mention the wording which says "devoted to peaceful purposes. "Such threats endanger the national security of states, and the United Nations must provide a decisive response to them."

Israel's new defense minister said last week that the Islamic Republic's nuclear facilities are now more exposed than ever, following Israel's October 26 airstrikes that targeted critical Iranian air defense systems.

In his remarks, Israel Katz said the vulnerability of Iranian nuclear sites has made it more plausible for Israel “to achieve the most important goal, to thwart and remove the threat of annihilation from hanging over the State of Israel."

“Our region has been familiar with the law-breaking approaches of the Zionist regime for decades. We will take all necessary actions to protect our nuclear facilities,” said Baghaei on Monday.