Israeli expert warns about Iran’s significant revenge

Dr. Raz Zimmt, senior researcher and Iran expert at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) at Tel Aviv University has warned that Iran will take revenge and it will be very significant.

Speaking at a media briefing, Zimmt noted that Tehran’s response will go far beyond its previous retaliatory attacks, Caliber.Az reported via Israeli media.

He estimates the Iranian reaction “will be more extended and significant than the attacks in April and October. This time, they will not just target military sites but also other facilities, including in more populated areas.”

The Israeli operation, which reportedly targeted top military and nuclear infrastructure inside Iran, included the assassination of high-ranking generals. While Zimmt acknowledged this was a notable achievement, he emphasised the broader implications: “We must see whether the damage caused by Israel today and afterwards - this is likely not the end of Israeli attacks - will really delay Iran's nuclear program for a significant time.” 

Reflecting on Iran’s previous missile capabilities, Zimmt noted that after October’s assault - during which Iran launched at least 200 ballistic missiles - “the assessment was that Iran still holds more than 2,000 ballistic missiles.”

He added, “Israel damaged Iran's ability to manufacture missiles, over the last weeks it appears Iran has rehabilitated its capabilities with help from China. It is assessed that they now have the ability to produce at least 50 ballistic missiles a month.”

Given that many of these missiles are stored in underground facilities, Zimmt cautioned: “The attack may have been successful in degrading Tehran's capabilities, [but] Iran still retains the ability to strike Israel and inflict major damage if it chooses to do so.”

In the early hours of June 13, Israel launched a strike against Iran, citing growing concerns over its nuclear programme. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that Iran possesses enough enriched uranium to produce several nuclear bombs within days, calling the situation an “imminent threat” that required immediate action.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz described the strike as a preemptive move, warning that it may be followed by retaliatory missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and its civilian population in the near future. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel would not halt its military campaign until it inflicts significant damage on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, ballistic missile production facilities, and broader military capabilities. Meanwhile,

US President Donald Trump - who had previously threatened Iran with bombing if it refused to negotiate a nuclear deal - commented on June 13 that Iran still has “a second chance” to strike an agreement. He clarified that US forces were not involved in Israel’s operation and emphasized that the strike did not come as a surprise to Washington. Russia’s Foreign Ministry strongly condemned Israel’s actions, accusing it of choosing escalation and “raising the stakes.” The ministry urged all sides to avoid a full-scale war in the region and stressed that any solution to Iran’s nuclear programme must be found through diplomatic means.

By Naila Huseynova