Iran’s leadership divided over response to Nasrallah’s killing

10/02/2024 / By Ramon Tomey

The leaders of the Islamic Republic of Iran are reportedly divided over how to approach their response to Israel’s assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah on Sept. 27.

Four Iranian officials disclosed this to the New York Times (NYT), noting that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayataollah Ali Khamenei is “apparently undecided about what to do next.” The outlet added that supreme leader was moved to a secure location on Sept. 28. All four tipsters, two of them members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), spoke to the NYT on condition of anonymity.

The Hezbollah leader’s demise was received with shock and anxiety in the Iranian capital, with some senior officials speculating that Tel Aviv may also strike the Islamic Republic with Khamenei as the target. The sources said that even the ayatollah was “deeply shaken” by the death of his close friend Nasrallah. Khamenei convened an emergency meeting of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council at his home.

The emergency meeting revealed differences of opinion among Tehran’s high-ranking officials, according to officials with knowledge of the conference. Conservatives such as Saeed Jalili, a member of Iran’s Expediency Discernment Council, called for a direct attack on Israel before the Jewish nation struck first. Iranian state television also echoed Jalili’s sentiments, urging Tehran to attack first.

But more moderate voices, including Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, opposed the idea of a direct attack. In July, Pezeshkian took over the seat vacated by his predecessor Ebrahim Raisi – who died in a tragic helicopter crash in May. (Related: Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi confirmed DEAD following mysterious helicopter crash.)

Launching a preemptive strike against Israel would mean falling into a trap set by Tel Aviv to trigger a regional attack, as per the sources. Other moderates also expressed concern that an attack on Israel would draw responses damaging critical Iranian infrastructure – further undermining the already weakened domestic economy

Tehran vows REVENGE against Israel

According to ZeroHedge, the Islamic Republic appears to have a strong reason to be outraged by the death of Nasrallah. The Sept. 27 bombings by Israel in the Lebanese capital Beirut also killed a top IRGC official.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed on Sept. 29 that IRGC Deputy Commander Gen. Abbas Nilforoushan was also killed in the bombings. At the time of his demise, Nilforoushan – a top commander within the Quds force, the IRGC’s foreign intelligence and operations arm – had been meeting with Nasrallah.

The foreign minister warned that the “horrible crime of the aggressor Zionist regime” will “not go unanswered.” However, he stopped short of mentioning whether it would be a military response.

“The diplomatic apparatus will also use its political, diplomatic, legal and international capacities to pursue the criminals and their supporters,” said Araghchi. He nevertheless stipulated that Iran has a legal right to respond militarily under international law if it wishes.

Javad Zarif, Iranian vice president for strategic affairs, issued a similar warning. State-run media outlet IRNA quoted Zarif as saying that a response “will occur at the appropriate time and at Iran’s choice, and decisions will definitely be made at the leadership level, at the highest level of the state.”

The Fars news agency, which is managed by the IRGC, cited a quote from the Iranian Guardian Council that Israel will “receive a forceful answer.” The council ultimately threatened “the destruction of the Zionist regime.”

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Watch this video of the black flag of mourning being raised at the Imam Reza Shrine in Iran following the death of Hassan Nasrallah.

This video is from the channel Cynthia’s Pursuit of Truth on Brighteon.com.