Israel too small to threaten Islamic Republic: Iranian General

The Cradle, April 11, 2023 —

Israel’s chief of staff, Herzi Halevi, claims Israel has the capability to strike Iran without assistance from the US.

The acting head of the Iranian military, Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, stated that Israel is too small to pose a threat to Tehran. The general was responding to claims made by Israeli Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, who suggested that Tel Aviv has the capability to strike Iran without assistance from the US, the Quds Force channel reported on 11 April.

Mousavi was quoted saying: “The Zionist regime, which is drowning and whose signs of collapse have become clearer than ever, is too small to be considered a threat to the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

Halevi made the claim when speaking to Israel’s Army Radio, affirming that its military is prepared to carry out attacks on Iran, without receiving military assistance from Washington, adding that Israel is “ready to act against Iran.”

He reiterated that Israel’s security forces will bolster their military capabilities in the coming year, stressing that a potential strike against Iran would be “overwhelming.” Halevi further clarified that it would be ideal for the US to provide support during such a scenario, however, “it is not an obligation.”

This comes nearly a week after Israeli defense and intelligence officials reportedly became alarmed over the recent remarks made by the Commander of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley, regarding Iran’s nuclear program. 

The commander testified before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense that the US “remains committed as a matter of policy that Iran will not have a fielded nuclear weapon.”

His use of the word “fielded” raised alarms among Israel’s intelligence community, who demanded clarification on whether the US had changed its stance on Iran and was ready to tolerate a nuclear weapons program.

Israel has always firmly opposed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a nuclear deal between Iran, Russia, several EU states, and initially the US. Washington unilaterally withdrew from the agreement in 2018 under the presidency of Donald Trump. Israel’s apprehension over the agreement mainly stems from its fear that Iran would eventually overcome regional and international isolation.

Despite Milley’s statement, the US Ambassador to Israel, Tom Nides, told Tel Aviv’s government that it could do “whatever they need” to take action against Iran in February, affirming US support on the issue, despite pending negotiations regarding the nuclear deal.

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