Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has given a measured response to Israeli strikes on the country, stating that the attack should not be “exaggerated or downplayed” and refraining from immediate retaliation. President Masoud Pezeshkian mentioned that Iran would respond appropriately to the attack, which resulted in the deaths of at least four soldiers, emphasizing that Tehran does not desire war. Israel claimed to have targeted military sites in various regions of Iran in response to Iranian attacks, including nearly 200 ballistic missiles fired towards Israel on 1 October.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Sunday that Israel had significantly damaged Iranian air defense and missile production systems, stating that the strikes had successfully weakened Iran’s defense capabilities. He praised the precision and effectiveness of the attack during a ceremony commemorating the victims of last year’s 7 October attacks, warning that Israel would retaliate against any entity that harms them.
Official Iranian sources downplayed the impact of the attack, asserting that most missiles were intercepted and those that were not caused minimal damage to air defense systems. In his first public statement following the attack, Khamenei remarked that it is the responsibility of the authorities to convey the power and will of the Iranian people to the Israeli regime through actions that benefit the nation and country. President Pezeshkian echoed similar sentiments during a cabinet meeting, reiterating Iran’s stance of not seeking war but defending the rights of its people and country.
The Israeli strikes were less extensive than anticipated by some observers, with the US urging Israel not to target oil and nuclear facilities, advice that seemed to be followed by Tel Aviv. Western nations have urged Iran not to retaliate in order to prevent further escalation between the two Middle Eastern countries, fearing the possibility of a full-scale regional war.
Iranian media has showcased daily life continuing as normal and portrayed the damage as limited, framing it as a triumph to reassure the public. Conflict persisted between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon and between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, resulting in casualties in both regions. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi proposed a two-day ceasefire in Gaza, suggesting an exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners as a basis for future negotiations. Hamas, however, maintained its conditions for a ceasefire, including a complete cessation of hostilities, Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and a comprehensive prisoner swap deal.