BY PC Bureau
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that Tehran is fully prepared to respond to any future Israeli attacks, cautioning that such actions could escalate into a “large-scale war” in the region. His remarks, made during an interview with China’s state-run CCTV and aired on Saturday, emphasized the potential for severe regional consequences.
<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>⚡️BREAKING <br><br>Iran has begun the Great Prophet-19 Military exercises, focusing on the Rapid Deployment of thousands of Soldiers to the War Zone <a href=”https://t.co/6DwjgPcgeq”>pic.twitter.com/6DwjgPcgeq</a></p>— Iran Observer (@IranObserver0) <a href=”https://twitter.com/IranObserver0/status/1875527068114678121?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>January 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″></script>
“We are fully prepared for the possibility of further Israeli attacks,” Araghchi said, as translated by the broadcaster. “I hope Israel will avoid such reckless actions, as they could escalate into a large-scale war,” he added.
The comments come amid heightened international concerns over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions and the upcoming inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who has taken a hardline stance on Iran. Speculation is also mounting over the possibility of an Israeli strike in response to missile attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, widely believed to be backed by Iran.
Israel has conducted two direct strikes on Iran in the past year. These included a counterstrike on October 26 targeting military and air defense facilities after Iran launched a barrage of 200 ballistic missiles, most of which were intercepted. Earlier in April, Israel attacked an air defense battery near an Iranian nuclear site following a series of drone and missile attacks attributed to Tehran.
Despite Tehran’s history of strong rhetoric toward Israel, Araghchi stressed that Iran seeks a diplomatic resolution and intends to consult with its allies, including China. “We believe reason will ultimately prevail and prevent actions with severe consequences,” he said.
Araghchi’s interview took place on December 28 during a two-day visit to Beijing aimed at bolstering bilateral ties. After meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, he noted that 2025 would be a critical year for addressing Iran’s nuclear issue. The interview was broadcast a week later.
