WNAM REPORT: The possibility of Israel carrying out a military attack against Iran cannot be ruled out, after which Tehran can be expected to hit back with equal force, Russian Ambassador to Iran Alexey Dedov said in an interview with the Rossiya-24 TV channel.
He emphasized that because the West has condoned Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip, Lebanon, Syria and the West Bank, the leadership of the Jewish state now has a “feeling of impunity.”
“So, naturally, we cannot exclude the possibility that Israel attempts to strong-arm them militarily. In order to prevent this, we are certainly using diplomacy. However, it is necessary to note here that Iran is also well-prepared for such strikes. If Israel and the US decide to deliver such a strike, the response will be absolutely proportional,” the diplomat said.
Dedov stressed that Tehran’s statements on potentially leaving the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) must be viewed as a response to the West’s threats against Iran, including attacks and sanctions. The envoy asserted that Iran is complying with the NPT “to the letter” and there is no evidence that the Islamic republic intends to develop nuclear weapons.
“On the contrary, the West is trying to provoke Iran to take some drastic steps. But we hope that Iran does not succumb to such provocations,” the diplomat emphasized.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump signed a memorandum restoring maximum pressure on Iran. In particular, the document calls for intensifying Washington’s efforts to hinder Iran’s oil industry. However, Trump did not rule out a meeting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Following this, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that Trump’s fears over Tehran developing a nuclear arsenal were unfounded as Iran remains strongly committed to the NPT. He reiterated that there is a religious decree from Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei that bans the production of nuclear weapons. Araghchi emphasized that this latest attempt to apply maximum pressure on Tehran will fail just like the previous ones.
On February 5, the US leader wrote on his Truth Social page that the reports that the US and Israel were going to “blow Iran into smithereens” were greatly exaggerated. He claimed that he would prefer to conclude a “verified nuclear peace agreement” on the Iranian nuclear program with Tehran, urging to begin working on it immediately. Reuters said, citing a senior Iranian official that Tehran is ready to give the US a chance to resolve disputes diplomatically on the condition that the United States agrees to “rein in Israel if Washington is seeking a deal” with the Islamic republic.
