According to the New York Times, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Iranian Supreme Leader, has instructed his officials to refrain from provoking the United States into a direct conflict.
However, he has also emphasized the need to be prepared to retaliate in the event of a US strike on Iranian soil.
In response to an attack by an Iranian-aligned militia group on a US outpost in Jordan, which resulted in the deaths of three American soldiers and numerous injuries, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council held an emergency meeting.
During the meeting, the council, which includes President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and military leaders, discussed the potential US response to the attack. The council concluded that the US might either directly target Iran or limit its retaliation to Iran-linked militias in Iraq and Syria.
In light of these possibilities, Khamenei issued “clear orders” to avoid direct conflict with the US and distance Iran from the actions of proxy groups responsible for American casualties. However, he also emphasized the importance of being prepared to strike back if Iran were to be targeted by the United States.
The statements made by Iranian officials following the Jordan attack shed light on their position.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani emphasized that the various militia groups in the region do not take orders from Iran, denying any involvement in the attack. Similarly, Iraq-based Kataib Hezbollah announced its independent decision to suspend operations against US troops. Iran’s envoy to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, issued a warning to the US, stating that any attack on Iran would be met with a decisive response.
Major General Hossein Salami of the IRGC echoed this sentiment, asserting that no threat would go unanswered.
While US President Joe Biden held Iran responsible for supplying weapons to those responsible for the American deaths, he reportedly chose not to retaliate against Iranian soil.
However, reports suggest that the US plans to launch airstrikes against Iranian personnel and facilities in Iraq and Syria.
Despite the tensions, Iran’s Supreme Leader, Khamenei, has expressed concerns about the risks of open war and its potential impact on Iran’s stability and the situation in Gaza. Nonetheless, Iran has taken precautionary measures by placing its armed forces on high alert, activating air-defense systems, and positioning ballistic missiles along the Iraq border.
