Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh has denied reports quoting him as saying the likelihood of fresh conflict with Israel was “very high,” the ISNA news agency reported on Friday.
Some outlets, including IRGC-affiliated Tasnim, had cited Khatibzadeh as making the remark during a visit to Baghdad. He told ISNA he did not use that phrasing in his interview.
Khatibzadeh said Israel “has violated all norms and international laws for two years” and that Iran’s response to recent attacks had been “painful.”
He added that the fighting “changed realities on the ground, particularly on the nuclear issue, and the International Atomic Energy Agency was unable to protect Iranian facilities.”
The June conflict began with a surprise Israeli strike on Iranian military and nuclear sites on June 13. Tehran said 1,062 people were killed, including 786 military personnel and 276 civilians. Israel said it killed more than 30 senior Iranian security officials and 11 nuclear scientists. Iran retaliated with missile strikes that killed 31 civilians and one off-duty Israeli soldier.
Khatibzadeh said Iran could target “any location” in Israel during the war and accused Tel Aviv of relying on “terror and media manipulation.”
Iran vows escalation if war returns
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said last month that Iran would abandon restraint if another war erupts. “In the next possible war, our restraint will end. New geographic areas and targets will be added to our response,” he told lawmakers. He warned that the conflict could also expand “into economic and political arenas.”
Ghalibaf said Iran’s armed forces had addressed weaknesses exposed in June and pointed to naval missile drills as a signal meant to prevent “enemy miscalculation.”
Israeli voices call for striking Iran’s leadership
In Israel, former defense minister Yoav Gallant said the country must prepare for another round and ensure that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is killed if fighting resumes. “Although Khamenei was not eliminated in this round, his elimination must be part of any plan of the State of Israel if a campaign against us is launched,” Gallant told Channel 12.
Gallant said Iran will rebuild some of its strength, particularly its missile arsenal, and warned Israel must be ready for a different war.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump also mooted killing Khamenei at the height of the June conflict, and Trump hinted at favoring regime change in Tehran.
