Thursday, April 18, 2024

Iran warns it may review ‘nuclear doctrine’ amid threats of Israeli reprisal for attack

Iran could review its “nuclear doctrine” amid Israeli threats after Tehran’s unprecedented missile and drone attack, says a senior commander in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency.

“A review of our nuclear doctrine and politics as well as considerations previously communicated is entirely possible,” says Ahmad Haghtalab, the IRGC commander in charge of nuclear security.

Tehran has long claimed its nuclear program was for civilian purposes. Israel has accused Iran of wanting to acquire an atomic bomb, and has said that it will not allow it to happen.

Iran launched more than 300 drones and missiles at Israel overnight from Saturday into Sunday morning in its first direct attack on Israeli territory.

The barrage came in retaliation for an alleged Israeli airstrike on what Tehran said was an Iranian consular building in Damascus, that killed seven IRGC soldiers, including two generals.

Israel and its allies shot down the vast majority of the drones and missiles and the attack caused only one injury, but concerns about a potential Israeli reprisal have nevertheless stoked fears of all-out regional war.