Lucknow Press
Iran News: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday (August 14) condemned Israel’s ‘psychological warfare’. According to him, its aim is to force Tehran to reconsider retaliation for the killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in the country. He stressed that any ‘non-strategic retreat – whether military, political or economic – invites ‘divine wrath’ according to the Holy Quran.
Khamenei’s statement comes a few weeks after the recent assassination of Hamas leader Haniyya in Iran. Haniyya had gone to Tehran after attending the swearing-in ceremony of Iran’s new President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Iran
has blamed Israel for the killing and, shortly after the assassination, Supreme Leader Khamenei called for revenge against Israel. On 31 July – the day of the assassination – Khamenei declared in a public statement that ‘we consider it our duty to avenge his blood’ because the killing took place on Iranian territory.
Khamenei said, “Governments that succumb to the demands of today’s major powers, regardless of the nations they represent, their size or strength, can withstand these pressures if they take advantage of the strength of their people and correctly assess the real, obvious capabilities of their opponents.”
According to Iran International, the Supreme Leader also criticized the long-standing practice of exaggerating the enemy’s capabilities to create fear.
Will Iran really attack ?
Iran seems to be playing a double game right now. It is creating suspense by threatening to retaliate for Haniya’s murder, yet is avoiding immediate action.
Iran International Some believe the Islamic government is fearful of escalation but is using the threat of attacking Israel to extract concessions from the United States, which has vowed to prevent a wider conflict. On Thursday, President Joe Biden indicated a Gaza ceasefire could avert potential Iranian retaliation.
Western powers have warned Iran against retaliation. They have urged Tehran to exercise restraint to prevent regional tensions from escalating. Along with this, they have urged to help in the release of more than 100 people held hostage by Iran-backed Hamas during the ongoing conflict in Gaza, while Iranian officials have dismissed these warnings as “irrational and excessive”.
