Raisi Threatens Israel with Destruction During Visit to Pakistan

Ebrahim Raisi, the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, threatened Israel with destruction during a speech in Pakistan on Tuesday, April 23. According to Iranian media, he stated at the 'GCU' university in Lahore that if Israel, as he described, 'makes another mistake and attacks Iranian territory, the situation will be different, and it is unclear if anything will remain of this regime.' After the victory of the 1979 revolution, Iranian officials referred to Israel as the 'Zionist regime.' Ebrahim Raisi arrived in Pakistan on Monday, April 22, for a three-day visit. Reports indicate that in an attack attributed to Israel on the evening of Friday, April 20, a military base near the city of Isfahan was targeted. While the Israeli government has not officially claimed responsibility for this attack, the Israeli news network 'Kan' reported that the missile used in the attack was an Israeli-made air-to-surface missile called 'Rampage.' 'Kan' noted that this 4.7-meter missile can travel at supersonic speeds, making it difficult to detect and intercept using air defense systems like the 'Iron Dome.' Meanwhile, Tehran has downplayed the attack attributed to Israel, insisting that only three small drones were involved in the assault on the base. Prior to this, the 'New York Times' reported that in an attack attributed to Israel on the Islamic Republic's air defense near the Natanz nuclear site, a missile with advanced technology capable of evading Iranian radar systems was used. According to Western officials, this action was 'to compel Iran to rethink' before a direct attack on Israel. The attack attributed to Israel occurred a few days after missile and drone strikes by the Islamic Republic against that country on April 14. Political and military officials of the Islamic Republic referred to this attack, which involved the launch of 300 missiles and drones, as a 'retaliatory attack' in response to the attack attributed to Israel on the Iranian consulate on April 2. Israeli and American officials stated that many of the Islamic Republic's missiles and drones were shot down. Meanwhile, according to Reuters, Ebrahim Raisi stated in his speech in Lahore that the Islamic Republic will 'proudly' continue to support the Palestinians. His reference was to Hamas and Islamic Jihad, which are proxy groups of the Islamic Republic. These two groups are recognized as terrorist organizations by the United States, Israel, the European Union, and other countries worldwide. The Associated Press confirmed the attack on the air defense in Isfahan; repeated denials by Tehran officials are meaningless. The European Union's agreement to expand sanctions against the Islamic Republic; Israel: this is just the beginning. Macron to Netanyahu: We stand with Israel against the threats of the Islamic Republic. The New York Times: Israel's initial plan was a 'major attack on military targets' including near Tehran.