Iran warns of ‘preemptive action’ against Israel ‘in coming hours’

Tehran, Oct 17 (EFE).- Iran’s foreign minister has warned of “preemptive action” against Israel “in the coming hours” if its attacks on Gaza continue.

“Leaders of the resistance will not allow the Zionist regime to take any action in Gaza… All options are open and we cannot be indifferent to the war crimes committed against the people of Gaza,” Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said on state TV on Monday night.

“The resistance front is capable of waging a long-term war with the enemy (Israel)… in the coming hours, we can expect a preemptive action by the resistance front,” he said.

The so-called Axis of Resistance is an informal alliance led by Iran and made up of militant organizations such as the Lebanese group Hezbollah, the Palestinian movements Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

“(Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan) Nasrallah has also said that if they do not take preemptive action, they will have to fight with Zionist forces in Beirut,” Amirabdollahian said of his meeting with the Lebanese leader a few days ago.

Iran has repeatedly warned that if Israel’s bombing and siege of Gaza continues, other fronts may open in the conflict.

Before his appearance on TV, Amirabdollahian said that “time is running out” and the international community should find a political solution as soon as possible before things reach “boiling point.”

The Islamic Republic of Iran and Israel are bitter enemies, competing for regional hegemony and waging a covert war with cyber attacks, assassinations and sabotage.

Tension has increased since Hamas launched an attack on Oct. 7 that caused 1,400 deaths and Israel launched a violent counterattack, bombing the blockaded Gaza Strip for 10 days, killing at least 2,800 Palestinians and injuring nearly 10,000. EFE

jlr/tw