Following a March 13, 2022 IRGC missile strike against a building in Erbil, Iraq which Iran claimed contained Mossad operatives, Iranian researcher Saeid Shaverdi said in a same-day interview on Al-Nujaba TV (Iraq) that Iran will retaliate directly against Israel if it undermines its security, even if the Vienna nuclear talks fail. He said that Iran will do so without reliance on its allies in the region.
Saeid Shaverdi: "We cannot violate Iraq's sovereignty. We targeted places where people from Israel Mossad were [located]. This reaction made It clear to them that they would not be able to operate in any country in a way that threatens our security, especially since security is Iran's most important red line.
"Even if it leads to the collapse of the nuclear negotiations, and to the withdrawal of the U.S. from these talks, we will retaliate, and from now on we will do so directly, and not through our allies or partners. We will attack you directly from Iran."
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Interviewer: "Thank you.
Shaverdi: "I believe that this is a strong message to the Israelis. If I may add one more thing. You can rest assured that... Allow me to inform you that if Israel continues these activities in the future, our missile attack will target the occupied Palestinian land.
"Unfortunately, you saw how the Arab media mocked Iran and its allies, saying: 'What's wrong with you, Iran? Why don't you retaliate against Israel? When will you retaliate? When will it be the right time for you?' This was the contempt displayed by the Israeli-supported media. I believe that the time has come and from now on Iran will retaliate directly, especially by means of the IRGC, wherever Israel tries to undermine the security of Iran."