Iran on Thursday threatened to “reconsider” its nuclear doctrine if Israel attempts to attack any of its nuclear facilities amid heightened tensions between the duo.
Brigadier General Ahmed Haqtalab, the Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in charge of the protection of nuclear centres, said Iran would respond if Israel threatened the country’s nuclear facilities.
The warning comes amid speculations that Tel Aviv is mulling a military response to IRGC’s unprecedented direct attack on multiple positions in Israel on Saturday that involved hundreds of missiles and drones.
Tehran said the attack was in response to the April 1 attack on the Iranian Consulate in Damascus that killed seven Iranian military officers, including two top-ranking IRGC commanders for Syria and Lebanon.
Israeli officials have warned of retaliation despite many Western countries urging restraint and de-escalation of tensions.
Haqtalab said if Israel takes action against Iranian nuclear facilities and centres, it will “definitely face response” in the form of attacks on Israeli nuclear centres.
He said: “The threat of the Zionist regime against Iran’s nuclear facilities makes it possible to revise and deviate from the declared nuclear policies and considerations.”
Haqtalab noted that based on international protocols and regulations defined by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), all countries are obliged to refrain from attacking nuclear facilities, but Iran is “prepared to deal with all threats.”
The IRGC commander said Iran has the “necessary information” to identify nuclear targets in Israel and “hands are on the trigger” if the need arises.
He accused Israel of “violating all international laws and regulations” by carrying out an attack on Iran’s diplomatic mission in the Syrian capital, calling it a “criminal act.”
Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, who landed in New York for a UN Security Council meeting on full Palestinian membership on Thursday, has also warned of a “strong response” in his conversations with foreign counterparts in recent days.
His Deputy and Iran’s lead nuclear negotiator, Ali Bagheri Kani, on Monday said any fresh military action by Israel against Iran will see a response “within seconds.”
“In the event of another mistake (by Israel), they must expect a response that is more swift and strong,” he asserted.