IRGC commander Hossein Salami (middle) is giving mixed messages (video snippet)

After IDF Strike Crippled Iran’s Defenses, Tehran Warns of Bitter Payback

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The Judean Staff
National

In the aftermath of Israel’s bold and expansive strikes on Iran’s air defenses, Tehran remains shaken, yet publicly defiant. For two days, Iran downplayed the extent of damage inflicted, but Iranian state media has now released a stark warning. The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), with its powerful commander Hossein Salami, cautioned that Israel will face “bitter and unimaginable consequences” in response to its strike on Iranian military sites—a move Israel says has left Iran's defensive capabilities decimated.

"A Sign of Israel’s Helplessness," says IRGC Commander

While attempting to downplay the direct impacts, IRGC chief Salami remarked through the Tasnim news agency that Israel’s attacks amounted to a desperate “miscalculation.” Yet, his words rang with a contradictory tone, ominously promising severe retaliatory action. Salami insisted that Israel's “ominous goals” were ultimately unmet, and, in a move suggesting Iran's hesitation, hinted that Tehran may be preparing a calculated response as opposed to immediate retaliation, given the "insignificance" they originally attributed to the Israeli assault.

IDF Delivers a Devastating Blow to Iran’s Strategic Air Defenses

According to Israel Defense Forces (IDF) radio (Galei Tzahal), Israel's overnight offensive, launched on Friday, has dealt Iran a crippling blow: all of Iran’s long-range surface-to-air missile batteries, including the Russian S-300 and Iranian-made models, were annihilated. This unprecedented strike also took down critical radar detection systems stationed across Syria and Iraq, blinding Iran’s ability to foresee further strikes. Left with only short-range and previously unreliable missile defenses, Iran’s airspace now lies vulnerable—especially in Tehran and western Iran, strategic areas where Israel perceives “operational considerations” for the future.

Iran’s Defenses Set Back by Years; Missile Production Halted Indefinitely

The IDF estimates that Iran’s strategic air defenses are effectively neutralized for the next 2–3 years. Amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict, Russia is unable to supply new missile systems, leaving Iran without recourse to replenish its defenses. Iran, which boasts over 2,000 long-range ballistic missiles, now faces an unexpected crisis: its missile production facilities and critical solid fuel processing capabilities have been entirely destroyed. With key mixers and processing technology rendered inoperable, analysts suggest it could take Iran years to restore production—a prohibitive task under the weight of international sanctions. As a result, Iran must manage its current stockpile cautiously, unable to produce or replace missiles with ease.

The impacts reach beyond missile production. By targeting Iran’s solid fuel processing, Israel has potentially thwarted any immediate ambitions Tehran held regarding nuclear-capable ballistic missiles. Experts agree that the destruction of these specialized facilities likely hampers Iran’s ability to create nuclear-armed missiles—a task that requires extensive adjustments to their current missile designs.

A Daring Operation: Over 140 Israeli Aircraft in Coordinated Attack

Israel's audacious assault involved over 140 aircraft, with more than half of the crewed units composed of elite reservists. Despite varying reports, the Iranian drone systems appear to have escaped damage, but the loss of ballistic and missile infrastructure has left Iran scrambling to assess the repercussions. The IDF, anticipating an Iranian counterattack, prepared to withstand a retaliatory barrage of over 200 ballistic missiles during their assault, securing readiness for three successive strike waves if needed.

Iranian Response: Calculation Over Instinct

As hours pass with no immediate retaliation, Israel’s security officials observe that Iran is strategically “thinking from their head, not from their stomach.” The delay hints at a strategic recalibration, as Tehran weighs its next move, wary of instigating an escalation it may not be equipped to handle effectively.

In the event of an Iranian counterstrike, the United States stands ready to assist, with defense assets such as the THAAD battery in Israel and AEGIS-equipped U.S. Navy vessels in the Persian Gulf poised to intercept any offensive maneuvers from Iran.

Looking Forward: Regional Power Dynamics on Edge

This unprecedented escalation in Israeli-Iranian hostilities raises the stakes in an already volatile region. Iran, having been caught off-guard, now finds itself facing profound questions about its strategic vulnerabilities. Israel’s unrestrained assault on Tehran’s infrastructure and air defenses has set a precedent and shifted the regional power balance in favor of Israel. As the dust settles, the future remains uncertain, with Tehran balancing between threats of retribution and the sobering reality of its compromised defense.

For now, the world watches as Iran weighs its next steps. But with its strategic infrastructure in ruins and key military capabilities dismantled, Tehran may face an uphill battle, not only to recover but to restore its standing as a formidable regional power. The "bitter consequences" Salami alluded to may indeed be more bitter for Iran than for Israel in the months and years to come.

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