TEHRAN: Iranian state television announced on Saturday that “heavy and destructive” attacks against Israel are anticipated within hours, intensifying fears of a broader regional escalation. The warning follows ongoing Israeli airstrikes and the sudden cancellation of nuclear-related negotiations between Tehran and Washington.
Tensions have escalated sharply after Israeli forces launched a series of coordinated strikes across Iran, targeting what it claimed were military and nuclear facilities. In response, Iran has indicated that significant retaliation is imminent, with state media hinting at the scale and timing of potential counterstrikes.
The escalation was sparked by deadly Israeli attacks on Friday that left nearly 80 people dead in Iran, including high-ranking military officials. More than 300 others, many of them civilians, were reportedly wounded. Iran’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, confirmed the casualties and condemned the strikes, which targeted both military installations and residential areas.
Earlier, the Israeli military confirmed it had begun new operations across multiple Iranian locations, asserting that these actions were in line with its strategy to cripple Iran’s military capabilities and prevent nuclear advancement. Israeli defense officials had warned that Tehran would face severe consequences, even stating that the Iranian capital “will burn” if further attacks were carried out against Israeli territory.
The rapid deterioration in relations has also halted diplomatic efforts. Talks between Iran and the United States, which were aimed at easing tensions around Iran’s nuclear ambitions, have been abruptly suspended in light of the military developments.
With both sides vowing retaliation and regional tensions at a boiling point, international observers have raised concerns about the potential for a wider conflict that could further destabilize the Middle East.
