Iran Vows to Carry Out Attack Against Israel

Iran’s Foreign Minister has vowed to attack Israel in response to its October strike “at the right time,” saying: “We have not given up our right to react to the Zionists.”

Israel launched an air attack on Iranian military targets on October 26, in response to Tehran firing around 200 ballistic missiles against Israel.

Seyyed Abbas Araghchi has said Israel’s strike deserves a reaction, “and we have not given up our right to react and we will react in our time and in the way we see fit,” according to the Iranian news outlet Young Journalists Club (YJC).

The foreign minister was answering questions from Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commanders about when Sadegh’s Promise 3 (Operation Honest Promise 3) would be carried out.

This is the name that the next Iranian attack is likely to be given, according to Iran’s semiofficial ISNA news agency, following Sadegh’s Promise 1 and 2.

“During the last 12 months, we have dealt very intelligently and tactfully, our decisions have not been emotional—it will be the same for Sadiq’s Promise 3,” Araghchi said.

Newsweek has contacted the Israeli Ministry of Defense, via email, for comment.

Beni Sabti a researcher in the Iran program at The Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv told Newsweek: “They are postponing their response to Israel because first they want to save Hezbollah from destruction, this is the main goal for Iran now.”

“‘The right time and the right place’ means they will wait for a while,” Sabti added.

The foreign minister spoke following an escalation between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah over the last few months. Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported two missiles struck the Zoqaq al-Blat neighborhood as recently as Monday.

But a U.S. envoy arrived in Beirut Tuesday for ceasefire talks—which will take place a day after Hezbollah reportedly gave a positive response to a U.S. draft proposal to end the war.

The plan would include the withdrawal of Israeli ground forces from Lebanon while pushing Hezbollah fighters away from Israel’s border.

Hezbollah began launching rockets on Oct. 8, 2023, in response to the war in Gaza, which began after the attack on Israel by Hamas militants on Oct. 7 2023.

The fighting has exacted a devastating toll, with over 3,500 killed and nearly 15,000 wounded in Lebanon, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.

Approximately 1.2 million people—a quarter of Lebanon’s population—have been displaced.

In Israel, 87 soldiers and 50 civilians, including foreign agricultural workers, have died in attacks involving rockets, drones, and missiles.