Iran's supreme leader has directed military commanders to prepare for an attack against Israel, senior Iranian officials told The New York Times.
Three Iranian officials, speaking to The New York Times on condition of anonymity, revealed that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued the directive during a Supreme National Security Council meeting on Monday. The order came after he reviewed reports detailing damage to Iran's missile production facilities, air defense systems, and critical infrastructure from recent Israeli strikes.
Gen Ali Fadavi, deputy commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps, declared on Thursday that retaliation was inevitable. "Iran's response to the Zionist aggression is definite," Fadavi told Lebanon's Al Mayadeen television station. "We have never left an aggression unanswered in 40 years. We are capable of destroying all that the Zionists possess with one operation."
Gholamhossein Mohammadi Golpayegani, head of the supreme leader's office, echoed these sentiments, promising "a fierce, tooth-breaking response" to what he termed Israel's "desperate action," according to Tasnim, a semiofficial news agency affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards.
The officials who spoke to The New York Times said military commanders are compiling a list of dozens of potential military targets within Israel. However, they indicated that any attack would likely be delayed until after the American election, citing concerns that regional instability could influence the US presidential race.
This latest development follows Iran's launch of approximately 180 ballistic missiles at Israel earlier this month, which Iran characterized as retaliation for Israeli operations against leaders of Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iranian military commanders. Israel responded with strikes on Iranian air defenses near oil refineries, petrochemical facilities, and a major port.
While Iranian state media has minimized the impact of Israel's attacks, analysts suggest the strikes effectively compromised key air defense systems around Tehran and energy installations. "They are willing to take this risk to not appear weak and prove they have a grip on power for both domestic and international credibility," Sina Azodi, an expert on Iran's military and adjunct professor at George Washington University, told The New York Times.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed Israeli military personnel on Thursday, stating that the recent attacks had enhanced Israel's capability to inflict damage in potential future strikes. "We hit its underbelly. The boastful talk by the Iranian regime's heads cannot conceal and compensate for the fact that Israel now has greater freedom to operate in Iran than ever before," Netanyahu said.
Gen Ismail Ghaani, commander in chief of the Quds Forces, affirmed Iran's support for Hezbollah, which continues to engage in conflict with Israel along the Lebanese border.
The timing and nature of Iran's response remain uncertain, as does whether diplomatic intervention might still prevent further escalation. Iranian officials' public statements could potentially serve as leverage in negotiations, though the supreme leader's direct involvement suggests a serious intent to respond.
