Iran vows to build ‘thousand’ nuclear centres if Israel launches attack

Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian Thursday (February 13) asserted that the Shi’ite nation would rebuild its nuclear centres if they come under attack by “its enemies”.

His remarks came after the Washington Post and Wall Street Journal reported, citing US intelligence sources , that Israel was likely to launch a pre-emptive attack on Iran’s nuclear programme by midyear.

“They threaten us that they will hit nuclear facilities… If you (the enemy) strike a hundred of those we will build a thousand other ones… You can hit the buildings and the places but you cannot hit those who build it,” Pezeshkian was quoted by Iranian state media as saying.

Trump’s warning

Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump flirted with the idea of bombing “the hell out of” Iran but stressed he would prefer to strike a deal.

“Everyone thinks Israel, with our help or our approval, will go in and bomb the hell out of them. I would prefer that not to happen,” Trump said Monday (February 10).

On Thursday, Hamid Vahedi, the commander of Iran’s conventional air force, reacted to Trump’s statement, saying, “We tell all countries, friends and foes alike, that our country’s doctrine is defensive but we will respond with force against any enemy attack.”

Israel’s response to Iranian attack last year

According to media reports, the potential strike by Israel on Iran could be seen as a response to the massive Iranian missile attack carried out in October last year.

This operation, dubbed “Operation True Promise 2” by Iran, was reportedly in response to the assassinations of key figures such as Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, and IRGC General Abbas Nilforoushan.

Iran’s position

Tehran maintains that any attack on its nuclear facilities will invite an “immediate” response and trigger an “all-out war in the region”.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in an interview said earlier this month that such an attack would be “one of the biggest historical mistakes the US could make."

(With inputs from agencies)