Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi recently delivered a speech where he did not mention the Israeli missile strike on the Isfahan region of Iran. This comes despite previous vows from Iranian leadership of total war in response to any invasion.
Raisi instead chose to focus on justifying Iran's own offensive attacks, specifically referencing 'Operation True Promise' which he claimed led to authority, unity, and cohesion in the country. According to translations from Iran International English, Raisi stated, 'Today, all political groups and factions believe that this response was necessary and a big honor for the country.'
The Israeli missile strike on the Isfahan region occurred on the same day as Raisi's speech. The fact that Raisi did not address this strike in his speech indicates a deliberate downplaying of the incident by the Iranian leadership.
Despite the lack of direct mention of the Israeli strike, Raisi's speech reflects a stance of portraying Iran's offensive actions as necessary and honorable. This rhetoric aligns with Iran's previous statements regarding the importance of responding forcefully to any perceived threats or attacks.
It remains to be seen how the situation between Iran and Israel will develop following these recent events. The downplaying of the Israeli strikes by Iranian leadership may indicate a desire to avoid escalating tensions further, while still asserting Iran's readiness to defend itself through offensive actions.
