Iran pledges retaliation after Israeli strikes kill top commanders “The ending will be written by Iran”

The Iranian government has vowed to retaliate against Israel following a series of large-scale airstrikes that struck the capital, Tehran, and several other cities overnight on June 13. 

The statement, issued by the administration of newly elected President Masoud Pezeshkian, pledged that Iran would respond decisively to the Israeli assault, Caliber.Az reports, citing Iranian media.

“The ending to this story will be written by Iran,” the administration declared, promising retribution for every life lost in the attacks.

The statement described Israel as a “savage regime” and warned that “one shall not speak but with the language of power.”

It went on to announce that “the Islamic Republic of Iran’s government has begun the necessary defensive, political, and legal measures to make the illegitimate Israel regret [its aggression] and will deny the Israelis a moment’s rest.”

Referring to Israel’s repeated criticism of Iran’s nuclear and missile programmes, the statement added: “The world now better understands Iran’s insistence on its right to enrichment and nuclear technology and missile power.”

Iran’s leadership also emphasised that the country had not initiated a conflict in the past two centuries, yet stated it would not hesitate to defend itself when necessary.

Israeli forces launched a coordinated aerial campaign on June 13, targeting over 100 sites, including residential areas and critical infrastructure in Tehran, Natanz, Ahvaz, and other urban centres. 

State media and eyewitness accounts confirmed that women and children were among the casualties, and images showed widespread destruction to residential buildings in the capital.

The attack also claimed the lives of several top Iranian military commanders, including Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Hossein Bagheri, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Commander Major General Hossein Salami, and Major General Gholam Ali Rashid, head of the Khatam al-Anbia Central Headquarters.

By Aghakazim Guliyev