Iraqi says Tehran will respond to Israel's attack at the 'appropriate time'

Abbas Araqchi, the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran, claimed on Tuesday, November 15, that Tehran opposes escalating military tensions in the region but stated that the Iranian government will 'definitely' respond to Israel's attack on November 5. He made this claim while asserting Tehran's opposition to heightened tensions in the Middle East, despite the fact that the Islamic Republic has never condemned Hamas's attack on Israel last October, a group it supports, and has also backed attacks from its other proxies like Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen. According to the English-language website of Voice of America, Abbas Araqchi, who is on an official trip to Pakistan, discussed Israel's attack on military bases and other facilities of the Islamic Republic that resulted in the deaths of at least five people with his Pakistani counterpart. In a joint press conference with his Pakistani counterpart, Ishaq Dar, in Islamabad, he spoke about the threats from Iranian officials to attack Israel, stating without going into details that the Islamic Republic of Iran will certainly respond to Israel at the appropriate time and in a very measured and calculated manner. Additionally, it has been reported that the Biden administration has warned the Islamic Republic to refrain from further attacks on Israel, emphasizing that it cannot control Israel's response. This message was conveyed to Tehran by American and Israeli officials. According to this report, new information from Israel indicates that the Islamic Republic is planning to attack Israel from Iraqi territory. This potential attack may involve collaboration with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Iranian-aligned militias, utilizing drones and ballistic missiles. Israeli and American officials have emphasized that even if an attack occurs from Iraqi soil, Israel will respond. Israel states that its attacks on Iranian positions are in response to Tehran's missile attacks on the country. Nonetheless, the Iranian government claims that its missile attacks on Israel are responses to the killing of militia leaders supported by Tehran and commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Meanwhile, Iranian state media reported on November 15, quoting Masoud Pezeshkian, the head of the 14th government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, that a potential ceasefire between Tehran's regional allies and Israel 'could affect the intensity and nature' of the response to Israel's attack. The report also indicated that the Pakistani Foreign Minister stated that he and his Iranian counterpart emphasized the urgent need for a 'ceasefire' and 'de-escalation' while condemning what they termed 'Israeli aggressions' in the Middle East. In another part of his remarks, Abbas Araqchi stated that during his meetings in Islamabad, he emphasized the necessity of strengthening political, economic, and commercial cooperation, combating terrorism, and especially cooperation in the energy sector between Iran and Pakistan. Despite discussions about energy cooperation, the foreign ministers of the two countries did not mention the status of the multi-billion dollar gas pipeline project from Iran to Pakistan, which has been stalled for a long time. The United States opposes this project due to violations of economic sanctions concerning the Islamic Republic's nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Iranian officials state that this 900-kilometer pipeline has been constructed in Iranian territory, but according to Pakistani officials, construction in their country has not begun due to U.S. sanctions. Tehran is increasing pressure on Islamabad to either complete the project or pay $18 billion in compensation. The outlook for escalating conflict between the Islamic Republic and Israel is seen by Jalil Roshandel, while Shahram Khaledi discusses the possibilities of confrontation between the Islamic Republic and Israel after the U.S. elections. Discussions are ongoing among American and Israeli generals regarding the 'threats' posed by the Iranian government. Blinken has urged Iraq to control militias linked to the Islamic Republic. The U.S. has rejected issuing a sanctions waiver for Pakistan regarding the construction of the Iranian gas pipeline. The U.S. has blacklisted several companies for supporting Iran's and Pakistan's military programs. Despite delays in completing the Iranian gas pipeline, Pakistan states it will not withdraw from this project, and the Pakistani Defense Minister expressed hope for completing the joint gas pipeline with Iran. The shadow of sanctions looms over the construction of the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline; the U.S. has warned about the risks of trade with Tehran.