'Israel' has just handed Iran a major victory: The Telegraph

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: The Telegraph
19 Apr 2024 18:21
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The Telegraph's op-ed mocks the United States' claim that the operation to intercept the Iranian response was a "win".

An Iranian military member walks past a banner carrying pictures of missiles raised in response to Israeli threats, in Tehran in April 2024 (Iranian media)

What was supposed to be an attack to restore deterrence, the Israeli attack on Iran managed to do the opposite; it further proved to the Islamic Republic that the United States, "Israel", and their allies are "alien to this concept," an op-ed published in The Telegraph on Friday concluded.

The piece titled, "Israel has just handed Iran a major victory," considered that the early Friday attack on Isfahan and Tabriz, which according to latest reports included several small drones that were launched from within Iran and were shot down by the country's air defenses, has emboldened Iran even more to carry out a larger strike against the occupation entity any time in the future.

The writer accused the entity's international allies of "muting" its attack and trying to contain it by attaching "limited" to it in fear of escalation, pointing out that this "would hardly strike fear in the heart" of the Islamic Republic. Additionally, by not publicly claiming responsibility, "Israel" stuck to "deniability with an inbuilt exit from the spiral of escalation."

He expressed frustration over the scope and extent of the Israeli aggression, comparing it to Iran's massive operation.

"Was that really it? Was that really the only response to hundreds of missiles and drones fired at Israel last week, costing a reported $1 billion (£804 million) in defenses and demanding an international response?" he questioned. "If the price for such a major assault is one 'limited' jab at an air base, then that is extremely favorable to Iran. The lesson for the Ayatollah is clear: next time, double the payload. It’s worth it."

The United States, following years of "appeasement" to Iran, is "happy to play defense," the author said, criticizing Washington's role in the event. He mocked the US' "temerity" to dub the operation they led to repel Iran's retaliatory attack "as a win," stressing that when it comes "to hitting back, it is cowardly."

According to the publication, Iran's foreign policy approach is gradual and strategic. It advances its agenda slowly and cautiously, testing the limits of what it can achieve. This incremental approach allows Iran to make gains over time while avoiding a decisive confrontation that could jeopardize its objectives.

But in the case that adversaries try to "sneak up" on the Islamic Republic, it would intervene decisively to deter further advances.

In conclusion, the author said that the West, including the United States, has failed to effectively counter Iran's action policy, and thus Tehran was able to advance its plans with relative impunity.