Iran says if Israel attacks again, response will be 'within seconds'

TEHRAN, Iran

Iran's deputy foreign minister for political affairs issued a stern warning Monday, saying that any fresh military action by Israel against his country will see a response "within seconds."

Speaking to state TV, Ali Bagheri Kani, who is also Iran's chief negotiator in nuclear talks, said if Israel makes another "mistake," the response will be very swift.

"In the event of another mistake, they must expect a response that is more swift and strong," he asserted, adding it will not be in days or hours but in a matter of seconds.

His remarks came amid intense speculation that Israel is preparing for a response to an Iranian attack that came late Saturday and involved hundreds of drones and missiles, marking the first direct attack on Israel.

Iran's military action was in revenge for an April 1 attack on its diplomatic compound in the Syrian capital Damascus that killed seven Iranian military officers, including two high-ranking commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) for Syria and Lebanon.

Kani called the Israeli attack a "strategic mistake,” which he said "provided a legitimacy for a serious test of Iran's military and defense capabilities."

"If there is any rationality in the Zionist regime, they should not repeat their mistake with another mistake," he said, referring to Israel.

Earlier on Monday, Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said Tehran does not seek an escalation of tensions, but if Israel resorts to another attack, the Iranian response will be "swifter, stronger and extensive."

He made the remarks in a phone call with his British counterpart David Cameron, adding that the crises in West Asia are "rooted in the destructive role" of Israel, a Foreign Ministry statement noted.

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani, addressing his weekly presser on Monday morning, said Iran's attack on Israel was "necessary and appropriate" and aimed at military targets.

He said the military action became necessary after a "lack of action" by the United Nations Security Council and also due to "irresponsible behavior" shown by the United States, Britain and France.