News

Iran FM downplays reported Israeli retaliation

By AFP

April 20, 2024 04:18 PM


File photo

Twitter Share Facebook Share WhatsApp Share

 

Iran's foreign minister has dismissed as akin to child's play the reported Israeli retaliation for an unprecedented Iranian strike, and said Tehran would not respond unless Iranian "interests" were targeted.

On Friday, Iran's state media reported explosions were heard after, according to an official, small drones were successfully shot down.

Media in the United States quoted officials there as saying Israel had carried out strikes in retaliation for Tehran's drone and missile barrage fired at Israel last weekend.

"What happened last night was no attack," Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian told NBC News in a Friday interview.

"It was the flight of two or three quad-copters, which are at the level of toys that our children use in Iran."

He added that, "As long as there is no new adventure on behalf of the Israeli regime against Iran's interests, we will have no response."

Friday's explosions prompted world leaders to appeal for calm and de-escalation with fears of wider conflict against the backdrop of the war in Gaza which began on October 7.

Overnight last Saturday-Sunday Iran launched its first-ever direct attack on Israeli territory. The barrage was in response to a deadly April 1 air strike on Tehran's consulate in Damascus, which Iran blamed on Israel.

The Israeli army said the vast majority of the more than 300 missiles and drones fired by Iran were shot down -- with the help of the United States and other allies -- and that the attack caused only minimal damage.

Israeli officials have made no public comment on what happened Friday, and analysts said both sides are looking to de-escalate, for now.

"If the Israeli regime intends to take another action against our interests, our next response will be immediate and to the maximum," Amir-Abdollahian said in the interview.


AFP


Most Read

  1. Durefishan and Bilal Abbas are secretly Nikahfied, claims YouTuber Maria Durefishan and Bilal Abbas are secretly Nikahfied, claims YouTuber Maria
  2. Hurray! Summer vacations for Punjab schools announced Hurray! Summer vacations for Punjab schools announced
  3. Life sans internet service returns to normalcy in Azad Kashmir Life sans internet service returns to normalcy in Azad Kashmir
  4. Resham issued notice for not paying vehicle's tax Resham issued notice for not paying vehicle's tax
  5. Summer vacations for schools announced Summer vacations for schools announced
  6. Trouble in paradise? Saif sparks divorce rumors after erasing Kareena's name tattoo Trouble in paradise? Saif sparks divorce rumors after erasing Kareena's name tattoo

Opinion

  1. Alice Munro, Canada's 'Chekhov'
    Alice Munro, Canada's 'Chekhov'

    By AFP

  2. Pak-Saudi-Iran economic proximity
    Pak-Saudi-Iran economic proximity

    By News Desk

  3. Military Establishment rules out any deal with what it terms a ‘bunch of anarchists’
    Military Establishment rules out any deal with what it terms a ‘bunch of anarchists’

    By Salim Bokhari

  4. 9th May - A year later
    9th May - A year later

    By Mutaza Solangi

  5. Everything but the truth in Telegraph
    Everything but the truth in Telegraph

    By Mutaza Solangi

  6. PM Shehbaz Sharif, WEF and Pakistan
    PM Shehbaz Sharif, WEF and Pakistan

    By Naveed Aman Khan