Iran stated on Wednesday that its military stands prepared to confront any potential attack from Israel, with the air force asserting its readiness for action. Additionally, Iran’s navy commander announced that Iranian commercial vessels were being escorted to the Red Sea.
This declaration follows Iran’s recent direct attack on Israel in retaliation for a suspected Israeli strike on an Iranian diplomatic compound in Damascus earlier in April. In response, Israel has indicated its intention to retaliate, with its war cabinet convening to discuss available options.
President Ebrahim Raisi, speaking at an Army Day parade, reiterated Iran’s stance, warning of a severe response to any Israeli attack on Iranian soil. The commander of the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force also affirmed their state of readiness, highlighting the preparedness of their warplanes, including Russian-made Sukhoi-24s, to counter any potential Israeli aggression.
Meanwhile, Admiral Shahram Irani stated that the Iran Navy was actively escorting Iranian commercial ships to the Red Sea, with their presence in the Gulf of Aden. He expressed Tehran’s readiness to extend escort services to vessels of other nations, particularly amidst disruptions in the Red Sea caused by attacks from Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis.
Furthermore, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards recently seized a Portuguese-flagged container ship, the MSC Aries, in the Strait of Hormuz, which Tehran alleges has ties to Israel.
