The Iranian newspaper ‘Entekhab’ quoted Qalibaf as saying: ‘With the valuable experience gained from this 12-day war, many weaknesses were identified and addressed, and with the strengthening of existing strengths, our military forces are ready to deliver a stronger response than before to any potential attack against Iran. If the enemy does not fall into miscalculation again, it will not decide to attack Iran.’ Qalibaf added, ‘Our armed forces have put in place appropriate plans to prevent the enemy from making a miscalculation, most notably the missile maneuver conducted by the Iranian army’s naval forces, which sent a clear message to the enemy that in any future potential war, the policy of restraint will end, and new areas and spaces will be included for retaliation. If the enemy dares to attack, we will witness the expansion of the war to new areas and other economic and political fields.’ Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz, accompanied by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said earlier, ‘I want to send a clear message to the dictator Khamenei: If you continue to threaten Israel, our long arm will reach Tehran once again, with greater force – this time, to you personally. Do not threaten, lest you be harmed.’ On June 13, Israel launched surprise airstrikes in an operation called ‘Rising Lion,’ targeting military sites and nuclear facilities in Iran, most notably the main uranium enrichment facility at Natanz. The Israeli strikes resulted in the deaths of several prominent nuclear scientists, military leaders, and Iranian officials, including the commander of the Revolutionary Guards, Hossein Salami, the Chief of Staff of the Army, Mohammad Bagheri, and the commander of the Aerospace Forces in the Revolutionary Guards, Amir Ali Hajizadeh. Iran responded with missile strikes against Israel in a military operation called ‘True Promise 3,’ targeting dozens of military sites and airbases in Israel, affirming that the operation would continue as long as necessary. Israel justified its attacks by saying that Iran had reached a ‘point of no return’ in uranium enrichment and was nearing the possession of a nuclear weapon, which Tehran denies, insisting that its nuclear activities are solely for peaceful purposes. The United States also launched an attack on three Iranian nuclear facilities in Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan on the night of June 22. According to Washington, ‘the attack aimed to destroy or severely weaken the Iranian nuclear program.’ Days later, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards announced retaliation against the United States by striking the American base ‘Al-Udeid’ in Qatar.
