Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref warned on Monday that war with Israel could break out at any moment, underscoring that the current calm following June’s 12-day conflict was merely a temporary pause, according to AFP.
“We must be prepared at every moment for confrontation; right now, we are not even in a ceasefire (agreement); we are in a cessation of hostilities,” Aref said.
On June 13, Israel launched a wave of airstrikes on Iran under the name of Operation Rising Lion. The military campaign targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities and killed top military commanders and nuclear scientists.
As a response, Iran launched a retaliatory wave of missiles against Israel and targeted Tel Aviv.
The US became directly involved in the conflict between Israel and Iran on June 22 after launching airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities in Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan.
On June 24, the US announced a halt in fighting with no formal ceasefire agreement.
“We are not in a ceasefire now, we are in a war phase, it could break down at any time, there is no protocol, no regulations, no agreement between us and the Israelis, between us and the Americans,” Yahya Rahim Safavi, a military advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, told Iranian media.
Meanwhile, Iranian officials have maintained that Tehran does not seek war but emphasized that it remains fully prepared for any renewed confrontation.
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