What Islamic Republic Media and Activists Said About the Israeli Attack

The dimensions of the military attack by Israel on Iran early Saturday morning, November 5, are still unclear. However, Islamic Republic media and government-supporting media activists emphasized this morning on one hand the "insignificance" of these attacks and on the other hand stated that Tehran must respond "decisively" to Israel for merely violating the country's "airspace." The Telegram channel "Saberin News," which is close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), wrote that it seems the Israeli attack was "limited to a few military sites to prevent a serious reaction from Iran, as the United States had requested." The Tasnim news agency, also close to the IRGC, reported in a series of articles citing unnamed sources referred to as "informed sources" that official Israeli news about the attack on Iran was "exaggerated." This news agency wrote: "Reports stating that 100 Israeli military aircraft were involved in this attack are completely false" and "the Israeli army's claim of targeting 20 points in the country is unrealistic." Tasnim also quoted this source as saying that the Israeli action was "carried out from outside the country's borders and caused limited damage" and that "no IRGC military center in Tehran was targeted." The rejection of all Israeli claims comes at a time when Iranian officials and institutions have not yet released any information about the extent of potential damage and the impact of these attacks. The only statement from Iran's Air Defense Headquarters indicated that Israel targeted military centers in Tehran, Khuzestan, and Ilam provinces early Saturday, causing "limited damage to some points, the extent of which is under investigation." Fars and Tasnim, news agencies close to the IRGC, even attempted to analyze the economic implications of Iran's air defense response to the Israeli attacks, although no reliable details about it were published, by discussing the fall in the price of the cryptocurrency Tether. Both news agencies wrote in similar terms, "Simultaneously with the start of Israel's action against several points in our country, Tether suddenly surged and briefly entered the 70,000 Toman range, but with the revelation of Israel's weak attacks and the good performance of the air defense, Tether began to plummet and continues to do so." Some media activists close to the government also promised on social media, in line with the news agencies close to the IRGC, that the dollar rate and the prices of gold and coins in Iran would sharply drop. In the past week or two, as expectations for Israeli attacks grew, the dollar and coin prices steadily rose and broke records multiple times. Some analysts say that part of this increase will naturally reverse if Iran does not respond militarily to the Israeli attack. Meanwhile, Fars news agency published a video of morning exercises of several men and women in Laleh Park in Tehran to show the "calm prevailing in the country." The Mizan news agency, the official organ of the judiciary, also published a video from state television quoting a reporter about the "normal situation" in Ilam and praised the Islamic Republic's air defense. The state television also emphasized the "normalcy" of the situation in Iran and mocked Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant, the Israeli defense minister, stating that they were "sheltering in a protected underground bunker in Tel Aviv" during the attack. The Islamic Republic's state television invited various experts who described the Israeli attack early this morning on Iran as "insignificant and trivial." Other news agencies, including ISNA, also considered this attack "unsuccessful" and "failed" and reported on the "normal" situation in the country, including smooth traffic and open schools. The IRNA news agency, the government organ, also published a message from Mohammad Reza Aref, the first vice president, on the X network, stating that "Iran's power humiliates and belittles the enemies of our homeland," quoting Hossein Jaberi Ansari, the CEO of this news agency, who said: "While some foreign media claim that the people of Iran are anxious about the actions of the occupying regime, images show anxiety on the faces of the leaders of the Zionist regime when issuing the order to invade Iran." The Mehr news agency also made the announcement from Iran's Air Defense Headquarters its top story and quoted it as asking the people "not to pay attention to enemy media rumors." The social media accounts of Iranian newspapers only reported hearing the sound of air defense activities in Iranian skies and published the announcement from the country's Air Defense Headquarters. It seems that media outlets have been prohibited from publishing any content regarding the Israeli attacks on Iran early Saturday, except for official news and reports. Some officials of the Islamic Republic, including members of parliament and some government supporters on social media who have always acted as the media arm of the Islamic Republic, also reacted to the Israeli attack early Saturday on military targets in Iran. The overall tone of these reactions is to portray the attacks as "insignificant," reducing them to "fireworks" and claiming that Israel's reaction to Iran was merely for "saving face internationally and for domestic consumption." Emad, a well-known user in the virtual space referred to as an "interrogator," wrote on X: "The main issue is the very violation of the airspace of the Islamic Republic of Iran, to which we will respond in an unconventional and decisive manner. Their failure in the offensive phase and our success in the air defense phase are secondary." Ali Gholaki, a journalist from the principlist faction, also referred to the statements of Aziz Jafari, the former commander of the IRGC, who reported on the Israeli missile attack on an airbase in Isfahan after Iran's first missile attack on this country, writing: "If the whole affair has been this... what General Jafari said—some consider it an unofficial position—has already been realized; that is, the regime's limited attack on the country for 'domestic consumption' and 'saving international face.'" Pouyan Hosseinpour, a media activist from Hezbollah, also claimed that the mentioned attack "in practice and in real confrontation, had less volume and intensity than the ordinary exercises of Basijis and the fireworks of youth during the annual Chaharshanbe Suri celebrations in the streets of Tehran." Malek Shariati, a member of parliament, also wrote that the Israelis "did nothing significant due to our air defense's alertness; however, moving a piece is still a move." Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesman for the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of the Parliament, also wrote on social media X just minutes after the Israeli attacks: "I entered Tehran through Mehrabad Airport a few minutes ago and passed through several streets; I did not observe anything unusual. The Zionist enemy is like small change; it only makes noise but has no value or impact. They are too weak to inflict serious damage on great Iran." Amir Hossein Sabati, a member of parliament, also called for a strong response to Israel based on Ali Khamenei's formula of "hit one, you get hit ten." Abdullah Ganji, former CEO of the newspaper Javan affiliated with the IRGC, also tweeted: "Even if the Zionists have landed an American missile in Iran, even in an ineffective location, they should receive a response right now." Nazemoddin Mousavi, a former member of parliament, also mentioned the necessity of executing "Operation Promised Truth 3," stating: "The fact that the usurping regime could not do anything significant does not mean that it will not receive a response." In the Islamic Republic's rhetoric, two previous missile attacks by Iran on Israel are referred to as "Operation Promised Truth 1 and 2." Contrary to the forces affiliated with the government and official figures, the reactions of ordinary users reflect concerns about the possibility of war, anxiety over worsening economic conditions, devastation in Iran, and the loss of innocent lives. Forces affiliated with the reformist faction, including Shahabeddin Tabatabai, a member of the government's information council, also reacted to the Israeli attack on military targets in Iran, along with the narrative of official and governmental media. Some journalists close to the government praised the diplomatic efforts of Abbas Araqchi, Iran's foreign minister, claiming that he averted the danger of a widespread Israeli reaction to Iran.