Netanyahu Warns Iran Amid Escalating Tensions with Hezbollah
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a strong warning to Iran on Monday, asserting that no part of the Middle East is beyond Israel’s reach as military actions against Hezbollah intensify in Lebanon.
In a video message delivered in English, Netanyahu addressed the Iranian populace, cautioning that their government is leading them toward disaster. “With every passing moment, the regime is bringing you — the noble Persian people — closer to the abyss,” he stated, emphasizing that “there is nowhere in the Middle East Israel cannot reach.” He warned that the Iranian regime is dragging the region into greater darkness and conflict, urging the Iranian people not to allow a small group of theocrats to shatter their hopes and aspirations.
Recently, Israel has escalated airstrikes in Lebanon targeting the “Axis of Resistance,” which includes Iran-aligned militant groups operating in Syria, Yemen, and Iraq. Notably, an Israeli strike in Beirut resulted in the death of Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, a group long supported by Iran.
In response, Iran has pledged to avenge the death of Abbas Nilforoushan, a senior commander in the Quds Force, who was also killed alongside Nasrallah during the strikes. Netanyahu expressed hope for a future where Iran would be free, predicting that peace between Israel and Iran would come sooner than many expect. “Everything will be different,” he said, envisioning a time when both nations could thrive together.
Amid these tensions, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman, Nasser Kanani, stated that there are currently no plans for Iranian fighters to engage directly with Israel, asserting that Lebanese and Palestinian forces possess the capability to defend themselves.
On the same day, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian visited Hezbollah’s office in Tehran to honor Nasrallah’s legacy. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the ultimate authority in Iranian affairs, pledged that Nasrallah’s death would not go unpunished, asserting that Israel is too weak to inflict significant damage on Hezbollah’s strength in Lebanon and calling for unity among the “Axis of Resistance” against Israel. Khamenei declared that Lebanon would ensure that the aggressors face consequences for their actions.
