Iran mulls over response to Israeli strikes that allegedly damaged its air defense system protecting energy sites

The leadership of the Islamic Republic of Iran has said that it is deliberating on a response to Israeli airstrikes carried out on Oct 26 while calling on the UN Security Council to meet on Oct 28.

Masoud Pezeshkian, Iran’s president, said that they aren't looking for a war but would respond “appropriately” to the strikes.

"We do not seek war but we will defend the rights of our nation and country,” Pezeshkian told a cabinet meeting on Oct 27. “We will give an appropriate response to the aggression of the Zionist regime," he added further.

However, it remains unclear whether Pezeshkian was indicating a direct military response or not.
Israel openly fired on Iran for the first time on Oct 26 hitting its air defense system in which four soldiers were reportedly killed.

Israel used precision air and drone strikes to target air defense systems protecting important oil and gas facilities, as well as military sites linked to Tehran’s nuclear program and ballistic missile production.

Meanwhile, the US has expressed concern over the cycle of strikes between the Middle East’s largest military powers fearing that it could lead to a full-scale regional war.

In his first response following the attack, Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the attack that the “evil committed by the Zionist regime two nights ago should neither be downplayed nor exaggerated."

Khamenei stated that Iran should exhibit its power to Israel, adding, “It is up to the authorities to determine how to convey the power and will of the Iranian people to the Israeli regime and to take actions that serve the interests of this nation and country.”

During a speech on Oct 27, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “The air force attacked throughout Iran. We hit hard Iran’s defence capabilities and its ability to produce missiles that are aimed at us. The attack in Iran was precise and powerful, and it achieved all its objectives.”

According to a report in the New York Times, the strikes targeted the Bandar Imam Khomeini petrochemical complex and the neighbouring port of Bandar Imam Khomeini.

With the recent strike on Iran amid escalating tensions in Lebanon and Gaza, the Middle East edges towards al all out.

Soon after the attack, Iran apparently tried to downplay the airstrikes.

Western leaders, including the US President Joe Biden, had earlier urged Netanyahu, not to target oil or nuclear facilities in response to an Iranian ballistic missile attack on Tel Aviv and military bases on Oct 1.

Iranian officials had repeatedly warned attacks on nuclear or energy infrastructure would cross a “red line”.

The exact scale of damage to Iran is still unclear, but Israeli media said that it was 20 hits. were targeted and the scale of the damage is still unclear, although Israeli media reported about 20 hits.

Netanyahu has claimed that the Israeli operation fulfilled its goals by attacking Iran's missile production sites and air defense systems.

However, Iran maintained that there was “limited damage” to air defense systems in Khuzestan, Ilam and Tehran and that the Islamic Republic had intercepted most of the Israeli projectiles.