'Iran's response to Israeli raid severe'

Rapporteur of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of Majlis, Kazem Jalali

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/179300.html

A senior Iranian lawmaker has vowed that Iran will deliver a “severe and crushing response" to Israel should the Tel Aviv regime attempts to attack the Islamic Republic.

Rapporteur of National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of Iran's Parliament (Majlis), Kazem Jalali, told Fars News Agency on Tuesday that there will be no way for the Zionist regime [of Israel] to escape if it commits the slightest aggression against the Iranian soil.

“Zionists themselves know well that Iran's reaction will be unpredictable and strongly harsh," he pointed out.

Amid a standoff over Iran's nuclear program, both Tel Aviv and Washington have repeatedly threatened Tehran with the "option" of a military strike, based on the allegation that Iran's nuclear work may consist of a covert military agenda.

Earlier in the month, a source close to prominent Iraqi cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's group said Israeli jet fighters had conducted drills at a military base in Iraq in order to strike targets inside Iran, Press TV reported.

According to the report, a considerable number of Israeli warplanes, including F-15, F-16, F-18, F-22, and KC-10 jet fighters, were seen at Al Asad Airbase -- the second largest United States military airbase in Iraq located in Al Anbar Province.

The warplanes reportedly carried out their week-long exercises at nights. The drills were said to be aimed at preparing to strike Iran's air defense systems, disrupt Iranian radars and attack targets deep inside the country.

Based on the report, Iraqi officials had not been notified about the drills conducted in collaboration with the US military.

Iran says its nuclear program is completely peaceful and within the framework of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty, to which it is a signatory.

Iranian officials have warned that any act of aggression by the US and Israel against Iran's nuclear facilities would be firmly responded to and could result in a war that would spread beyond the Middle East.