The United States warned Iran that it would not be able to prevent Israel from responding in the event of an attack from Tehran, the Axios portal reports, citing US and former Israeli officials.
According to the US official, the US administration conveyed the message directly to Iran. An Israeli official, on the other hand, said that he was transferred to Tehran thanks to Swiss mediation (formally there are no diplomatic relations between Iran and the United States).
“We told the Iranians: we cannot deter Israel and we cannot guarantee that the next attack will be as precise and targeted as the last.” — a US official told the portal.
According to Israeli intelligence services, Iran is preparing to retaliate against Israel from Iraq, Axios previously claimed. According to the portal, this could happen before the United States presidential elections, scheduled for November 5.
Several Israeli officials told the outlet that the attack could involve a joint attack by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and allied Shiite militias from inside Iraq, which could involve drones and ballistic missiles. US officials also called the implementation of such a scenario most likely in the coming days.
Israel, according to American and Israeli representatives, may respond even if the attack is carried out from Iraqi territory.
“Everything will depend on how massive the attack is and what its results are,” an Israeli official told Axios.
On the night of October 26, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) carried out airstrikes against military targets in three Iranian provinces: Tehran, Khuzestan and Ilam. Iranian authorities announced that four military personnel were killed, the country suffered “limited damage” and the oil industry was not damaged.
The Israeli attack was a response to an Iranian missile attack carried out in early October. The IDF identified the targets as surface-to-air missile systems, air defense systems and missile production sites that were launched into Israeli territory during the past year.
Iran has vowed to retaliate against Israel. On November 2, the Supreme National Security Council of the Iranian Parliament (Majlis) decided on this attack.
The United States called on Iran to refrain from attacking. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre declared: “Iran does not need to respond to Israel’s response. “If you choose to respond, the United States will stand with Israel and help defend the country.”
A State Department representative spoke in a similar tone. Matthew Millerremember RBC.
