Iran Vows ‘Crushing’ Retaliation as Tensions with Israel Escalate and IAEA Warns Against Attacks on Nuclear Sites

Heightened tensions between Iran and Israel persist, with Tehran’s military vowing a “crushing” retaliation to Israeli airstrikes last month as the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog scrambles to prevent further escalation.

Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), visited Iran this week for high-level talks, seeking clarity on Tehran’s nuclear program and holding the country accountable for past nuclear safeguarding promises.

Amidst Tehran’s ongoing nuclear development, Grossi issued a stern warning to Israel, stating that Iran’s nuclear installations should not be attacked.

This statement follows remarks by Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on Monday, who emphasised that Iran is more vulnerable than ever to strikes on its nuclear facilities.

The Foundation for Defense of Democracies has analysed where Iran’s nuclear infrastructure is located as Israel mulls retaliatory attacks. (Image provided by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies)

The U.S. has consistently advised Israel against attacking Iran’s nuclear sites. However, the situation may change under President-elect Donald Trump’s administration, which is expected to take a more hardline stance on Iran.

People carry their luggage as they cross into Syria on foot through a crater caused by Israeli airstrikes aiming to block the Beirut-Damascus highway at the Masnaa crossing in the eastern Bekaa Valley, Lebanon, on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar, File)

In a parallel development, Iran’s military leaders continue to prepare for retaliation following Israel’s airstrikes in late October. During a meeting with the family of Major Sajjad Mansouri, who was killed in the October 26 strikes, Iranian Army Commander-in-Chief Major General Seyyed Abdolrahim Mousavi reiterated Tehran’s promise of a “crushing” response.

Similar rhetoric was echoed by Iranian Revolutionary Guard Deputy Commander Ali Fadavi, who warned of the “complete downfall” of Israel.

Meanwhile, Israel has intensified its attacks on Iran-backed militant groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon and Islamic Jihad in Syria. On Thursday, Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) struck positions in Beirut and Damascus, resulting in casualties.

Smoke billows over Beirut’s southern suburbs after an Israeli strike amid the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, as seen from Baabda, Lebanon, on Nov. 14, 2024. (REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani)

The Lebanese Health Ministry reported six deaths and 15 injuries from an Israeli airstrike in southern Beirut, while 15 people were killed and 16 injured in Damascus.

In response, senior Iranian officials, including Ali Larijani, a senior advisor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, are visiting Syria and Lebanon to discuss regional developments. Despite growing tensions and retaliatory threats, the geopolitical situation remains fluid, with uncertainty over how U.S. policies under Trump may influence the region’s future.