Overnight on April 13-14, 2024, Iran launched an unprecedented attack—including 170 drones, at least 30 cruise missiles, and more than 120 ballistic missiles—on Israel. The swarm of assaults were retaliation for Israel’s airstrike, on April 1, on an Iranian diplomatic mission in Damascus that killed seven Revolutionary Guards officers, including three generals. Operation True Promise marked the first time that Iran attacked Israel from its own territory.
Iranian leaders claimed success even though 99 percent of the more than 330 weapons launched were intercepted by Israel and its partners, including the United States, Britain, Jordan, and France. Tehran established “a new equation” in its standoff with Israel. “From now on, every attack by the Zionist regime will be met with a retaliation from the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Major General Hosein Salami, the commander of the Revolutionary Guards, warned on April 14. He also claimed that the attack was deliberately calibrated to avoid further escalation. It “could have been very extensive, but we limited the scope of the operation” to target the bases that Israel used to attack the Iranian consulate in Syria.
But the military also warned that Iran would not show restraint a second time. “If the Zionist regime takes any action against the Islamic Republic, whether on our soil or on places belonging to us in Syria or elsewhere, our next operation will be much larger,” Major General Mohammad Bagheri, the chief of staff of Iran’s armed forces, said on April 14.
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At an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council, Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani argued that operation was “entirely in the exercise of Iran’s inherent right to self-defense.” He criticized the body for not condemning the April 1 attack in Damascus and labeled Israel as “the real threat to international peace and security.” Iravani also urged the council to take “punitive measures” over Israel’s conduct in the war with Hamas.
Iran’s militia allies across the Middle East hailed the assault on Israel. “The operation precisely achieved its limited military objectives, despite the involvement of the United States, its allies, and its regional tools in responding to the stunning attack,” Hezbollah, a Shiite political movement and militia in Lebanon, said on April 14. The following are comments by senior Iranian officials and Tehran’s allies in Lebanon, Gaza and Iraq.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on April 21
"Debates by the other party about how many missiles were fired, how many of them hit the target and how many didn’t, these are of secondary importance."
"The main issue is the emergence of the Iranian nation and Iranian military’s will in an important international arena. This is what matters."
President Ebrahim Raisi on April 17
"Today, not only us, but the people of the region and the world are aware of the authority of the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran; The people of the world saw that after the Operation al Aqsa Flood [the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel/, 'True Promise' collapsed the Zionist regime's false hegemony."
"Our IRGC and army forces punished the Zionist regime in a rational, wise, calculated and precise action according to the Supreme Commander-in-Chief and created authority and honor, and today the world and the leaders of different countries recognize this authority."
"This action was a declaration to the whole world and the so-called well-equipped powers of the world, especially the Americans and other supporters of the Zionist regime, that the great nation of Iran is a ready nation and our armed forces are skillful, equipped, faithful, powerful, ready and waiting for the command of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief to act."
"Operation True Promise was a limited and not comprehensive and extensive operation. If this operation was supposed to be comprehensive and extensive, then the supporters of the Zionist regime would have seen that there would be nothing left of the Zionist regime, but it was supposed that this operation first, be a limited action, and secondly, be for the purpose of punishment, and thirdly, it should target the same centers from where actions were taken against the interests of the Islamic Republic of Iran."
"The recent defeat of the Zionist regime from the axis of resistance in the region in addition to the military, intelligence and security defeat, has been a strategic failure, because the process of normalizing relations with this fake regime that was spreading among Islamic countries failed completely, and those countries that sought to normalize relations with this cruel and criminal regime, are ashamed before their nations today."
President Raisi on April 15
“We categorically declare that the smallest action against Iranian interests will certainly be met with a severe, widespread and painful response against any perpetrator.”
President Raisi on April 14
“New aggression against the interests of the Iranian nation will be met with a heavier and regrettable response.”
Major General Mohammed Bagheri, Chief of Staff of Iran's Armed Forces, on April 14
“From our point of view, this operation is over. There is no intention to continue the operation. But if the Zionist regime takes any action against the Islamic Republic, whether on our soil or on places belonging to us in Syria or elsewhere, our next operation will be much larger.”
Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Bagheri: Neither the Iron Dome nor other defensive shields were able to take significant action against #Iran's operational tactics in "Operation True Promise". pic.twitter.com/LuBuXJQud8
— IRNA News Agency (@IrnaEnglish) April 14, 2024
Major General Hossein Salami, Commander of the Revolutionary Guards, on April 14
“We have established a new equation: henceforth, any assault by [Israel] on our people, property, or interests will trigger a reciprocal response originating from within the Islamic Republic of Iran… This operation could have been very extensive, but we limited the scope of the operation to the facilities that [Israel] used to attack our consulate.”
Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on April 14
“In response to the phone call of @JosepBorrellF the foreign policy official of the European Union, @DrSJaishankar the foreign minister of India, @HakanFidan the foreign minister of Turkey and Mr. Sameh Shukri and Faisal Meqdad, my colleagues from Egypt and Syria, the action of the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran in response I considered the Zionist regime's terrorist attack on the Islamic Republic of Iran's embassy in Damascus to be within the framework of legitimate defense in accordance with Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.
“Also, in a conversation with @ABaerbock , @David_Cameron and @MinisterIanBorg the foreign ministers of Germany, England and Malta (as the interim head of the Security Council), while expressing the importance of sustainable security in the region, I made it clear that Iran will face any new evil from The Israeli regime will act decisively to defend its security and national interests.
“We also shared the latest developments in the region with @MBA_AlThani_ the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar and @FaisalbinFarhan the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia.”
Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian on April 14
“Exercising the right of legitimate defense shows Iran's responsible approach to regional and international peace and security.
“At this point, the Islamic Republic of Iran has no intention of continuing defensive operations, but if necessary, it will not hesitate to protect its legitimate interests against any new aggression.”
Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian on April 15
“Today, in continuation of important regional and international consultations, in a phone call with @antonioguterres the Secretary General of the United Nations, as well as the Secretary Generals of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, while pointing out the escalation of crimes committed by the Zionist regime in the region, the legitimate right of our country to respond to the terrorist attack. The Israeli regime emphasized the building of the Iranian consulate in Damascus, in accordance with Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.
“Next, with @Menlu_RI the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, @tfajon the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia, @tokmatn9 the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia, @a_schallenberg the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Austria, @badralbusaidi the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman, Wang Yi, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, Sergey Lavrov I had an interview with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.
“In these talks, by explaining the clear positions of the Islamic Republic of Iran regarding the importance of stable peace and security in the region and preventing the spread of tensions, I clarified the inexorability of our country's national security and national interests.”
Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian on April 16
“The root cause of tension and war in the region is the Israeli regime.”
Foreign Ministry Statement on April 14
On 14 April 2024, the Islamic Republic of Iran's armed forces have carried out a series of military strikes on Israeli's military bases in response to, and in exercise of its inherent right of self-defense as recognized under Article 51 of the Charter, against Israel's recurring military aggressions, resulting in the martyrdom of the Iranian military advisors present in Syria at the invitation of the Syrian government, in particular the 1 April armed attack against diplomatic premises of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Damascus.
The Islamic Republic of Iran reaffirms its commitment to the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and international law, while reiterating its determination to forcefully defend its sovereignty, territorial integrity and national interests against any unlawful use of force and aggressions.
The Islamic Republic of Iran's resort to defensive measures in exercise of its right of self-defense demonstrates Iran's responsible approach toward regional and international peace and security at a time when the occupying apartheid regime's pattern of relentless genocidal campaign against Palestinian people is accompanied with repeated military aggressions against neighboring States and fanning the flames across the region and beyond.
The Islamic Republic of Iran would not hesitate to take further necessary defensive measures to protect its legitimate interests against any act of military aggression or unlawful use of force.
Letter from the Iranian Mission to the U.N. to Secretary General Antonio Guterres on April 13
Excellency,
Upon instructions from my Government and pursuant to our letter dated 1 April 2024 concerning the Israeli regime's armed attacks against the diplomatic premises of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Damascus, the Syrian Arab Republic, which led to the martyrdom of seven Iranian senior military advisories (A/78/838-S/2024/281), I would like to inform you that, in the late hours of 13 April 2024, the Islamic Republic of Iran carried out a series of military strikes on Israeli military objectives.
This action was in the exercise of Iran's inherent right to self-defense as outlined in Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, and in response to the Israeli recurring military aggressions, particularly its armed attack on 1 April 2024 against Iranian diplomatic premises, in the defiance of Article 2 (4) of the Charter of the United Nations.
Regrettably, the United Nations Security Council has failed in its duty to maintain. international peace and security, allowing the Israeli regime to transgress red lines and violate the fundamental principles of international law. Such violations have exacerbated tensions in the region and threatened regional and international peace and security.
As a responsible Member of the United Nations, the Islamic Republic of Iran is committed to the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, and international law, and reiterates its consistent position that it does not seek escalation or conflict in the region.
While warning about any further military provocations by the Israeli regime, the Islamic Republic of fran reaffirms its unwavering determination to defend its people, national security and interests, Sovereignty, and territorial integrity against any threat or acts of aggression and to respond to any such threat or aggressions vigorously and in accordance with international law.
The Islamic Republic of Iran will not hesitate to exercise its inherent right of self-defense when required. Should the Israeli regime commit any military aggression again, Iran's
response will assuredly and decisively be stronger, and more resolute.
I should be grateful if you would circulate the present letter as a document of the Security Council.
Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.
Amit Saeid Iravani Ambassador Permanent Representative
Ambasasdor to the United Nations Amir Saied Iravani to the U.N. Security Council on April 15
Madam President,
As we informed in our letter last night, in response to the Israeli regime's recurring military aggressions, particularly its armed attacks on 1st April 2024 against Iranian diplomatic premises, in defiance of Article 2 (4) of the Charter of the United Nations, the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran carried out a series of military strikes on Israeli military objectives with dozens of missiles and drones.
Iran's operation was entirely in the exercise of Iran’s inherent right to self-defense. This concluded action was necessary and proportionate. It was precise and only targeted military objectives, and carried out carefully to minimize the potential for escalation and prevent civilian harm.
Madam President,
We thank those members of the Council who condemned the Israeli armed attacks against our diplomatic premises in Syria. Regrettably, in this Chamber, certain members of the Council, including the US, the UK, and France have chosen once again to turn a blind eye to reality and overlook the root causes contributing to the current situation.
In hypocritical behavior, these three countries falsely blamed and accused Iran without considering their own failures to uphold their international commitments to peace and security in the region.
They made unsuccessful attempts to use lies, manipulate the narrative, spread disinformation, and engage in a destructive blame game. All the while, they deliberately disregarded Iran's inherent right to respond to the violation of a fundamental principle of international law: the inviolability of diplomatic representatives and premises. Moreover, they ignored the underlying root causes of the current situation in the region.
Madam President,
For over six months now, these countries, especially the United States have shielded Israel from any responsibility for the Gaza massacre.
While they have denied Iran’s inherent right to self-defense against the Israeli armed attacks on our diplomatic premises, at the same time, they shamefully justified the Israeli massacre and genocide against the defenseless Palestinian people under the pretext of self-defense.
They made a cynical attempt to justify and cover up the atrocities of the Israeli regime against the people of Palestine by arbitrary and misleading interpretations of self-defense.
Madam President,
Following the Israeli regime's cowardly terrorist and armed attack against our diplomatic premises in Damascus the Syrian Arab Republic, on the first of April, we notified the UN Security Council and Secretary-General of such international wrongful acts as well as of Iran’s inherent right under international law to respond to such terrorist armed attacks (A/78/838-S/2024/281).
Also, in a phone conversation with the UN Secretary-General on 2nd April, Iran’s Foreign Minister discussed the situation and called for taking appropriate action and strong condemnation from the international community for this horrific crime.
We called upon the Security Council to strongly denounce this unjustified criminal and terrorist act, taking decisive and appropriate measures to bring the perpetrators to justice swiftly and prevent the recurrence of such horrible crimes against the diplomatic premises of any member state.
Regrettably, the Security Council has failed in its duty to maintain international peace and security. Russia proposed a press statement to denounce this atrocious act, which was backed by China, Algeria, and many members, but was blocked by the US, UK, and France. Faced with such circumstances, the Islamic Republic of Iran had no choice but to exercise its inherent right to self-defense under international law.
Madam President,
The root causes of the current situation are clear to all. From the start of the Israeli war against Palestinian people in Gaza, more than 34 thousand civilians, two-thirds of them children and women have been killed.
All civilian infrastructures have been targeted and destroyed by Israel; even humanitarian workers have not been immune from the military attacks of this rough regime. The absence of accountability and the Council’s inaction face with the Israeli genocide and war crimes against the Palestinian people has only emboldened this regime to continue its violations unchecked.
The US and its allies have blocked the Security Council for over six months, protecting Israel from accountability for the Gaza massacre. They not only avoid condemning Israel for these atrocities but also actively try to cover up them.
Their sole priority is supporting and defending Israel, regardless of the consequences and at all costs. Despite international pressure and UNSC resolutions calling for a ceasefire, Israel has defied these resolutions. Rather, its focus remains on committing more atrocious crimes, showing no regard for international legal obligations.
Madam President,
This lawless regime has committed many atrocious crimes against our people. This regime blatantly and openly admitted its responsibility for the terrorist and destructive operations committed against Iranian officials, scientists, and civilians, and sabotage against our peaceful nuclear infrastructure in recent years.
This Israeli regime even made explicit threats to use nuclear weapons against a sovereign member state of the United Nations. This terrorist regime is responsible for all criminal and terrorist acts committed against Iran and must bear the consequences.
The Islamic Republic of Iran has warned time and again about the repercussions of malicious activities of the regime on regional and international peace and security.
Iran has exercised maximum restraint. Now, it is time for the occupying regime to bear full responsibility for its consequences. This regime cannot evade accountability.
Madam President,
Israel's ongoing destabilized and irresponsible actions and atrocities against the nations in the region are a real threat to regional and international peace and security.
The Israeli Prime Minister's policy seeks to expand and escalate the conflict in the region to stay in power. The members of the Security Council must not allow such an august body, the Security Council to be held hostage to the ambitions of such a belligerent regime.
It is time for the Security Council to shoulder its responsibility and address the real threat to international peace and security. The Security Council must promptly fulfill its duty under Chapter 7 of the Charter in response to Israel's reckless defiance.
It must take urgent and punitive measures to compel this regime to stop its genocide and massacre against the people of Gaza and uphold its obligations especially fully implement the UNSC resolutions and legally binding orders of the International Court of Justice.
Madam President,
The main and longstanding threat to the peace and security of our region is well-known to all, and attempts to conceal it through disinformation, smear campaigns, or baseless accusations against others are pointless and unfounded.
Iran is never seeking to contribute to the spillover of the conflict in the region nor does it to escalate or spread the tension to the entire region. Contrary to unfounded claims, Iran has no proxy in the region. No individual, group, or country acts at Iran’s behest.
The US and Israeli regime attempted to label the resistant groups in the region as proxies or terrorists. Their sinister aim is only to justify and legalize their malicious and destabilized activities in the region.
The resistant groups are not proxies or terrorists. They are legitimate and are only fighting against the occupation and aggressions of Israel in Gaza and occupied Palestine territories and of the US in the region.
International law recognized such legitimate rights against any occupation and aggression. Instead, the U.S. and the UK are fully responsible for all its decades-long aggressions and other crimes and unlawful measures in our region.
Furthermore, they are responsible for all crimes of the Israeli regime, as it cannot commit any of such savage crimes in Gaza without the consent, order, and all-out political, financial, and military support of, and collaboration with, the United States and the UK.
We also reject the unfounded allegations made by the Israeli regime at this meeting. Therefore, such false and unfounded claims do not merit a response.
Madam President, and Excellencies,
As a responsible Member of the United Nations, the Islamic Republic of Iran is committed to the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, reaffirms once more its commitment to the maintenance of international peace and security.
The Islamic Republic of Iran reiterates its consistent position that it does not seek escalation or war in the region.
While warning about any further military provocations by the Israeli regime, the Islamic Republic of Iran reaffirms its unwavering determination to defend its people, national security and interests, sovereignty, and territorial integrity against any threat or acts of aggression and to respond to any such threat or aggressions vigorously and in accordance with international law.
The Islamic Republic of Iran will not hesitate to exercise this right when required.
Madam President,
Iran has no intention of engaging in conflict with the US in the region.
We demonstrated our commitment to peace by exercising our restraint about involving the US Army in intercepting Iranian drones and missiles bound for military targets in the occupied Palestinian territories. This underscores our dedication to de-escalating tensions and avoiding the expansion of conflict.
However, if the US initiates military operations against Iran, its citizens, or its security and interests, Iran will use its inherent right to respond proportionately.
I thank you, Madam President.
Iran's Allies
Hezbollah (Lebanon) on April 14
“The operation precisely achieved its limited military objectives, despite the involvement of the United States, its allies, and its regional tools in responding to the stunning attack. The long-term political and strategic objectives for this major development will be successfully apparent over time.”
Hamas (Palestinian Territories) on April 14
We in the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) consider the military operation carried out by the Islamic Republic of Iran against the occupying Zionist entity. A natural right and a deserved response to the crime of targeting the Iranian consulate in Damascus and assassinating a number of Revolutionary Guard leaders there.
Emphasizing the natural right of the countries and peoples of the region to defend themselves in the face of Zionist attacks, we call on our Arab and Islamic nation, the free people of the world and the resistance forces in the region to continue their support for the Al-Aqsa flood, and the right of our Palestinian people to freedom and independence and the establishment of their Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.
Kataib Hezbollah (Iraq) on April 14
The Zionist-American enemy and his followers only understand the language of weapons to curb their tyranny, break their tyranny, and limit their crimes against peoples. Without it, our land would not have been liberated in the first stage of occupation, and his creation would not have defeated ISIS, and without it, the country’s glorious sovereignty would not be restored. Operation True Promise, which he ordered to be implemented. Imam Khamenei (may his blessings last) is a clear confirmation of the necessity of perpetuating the equation of deterring the enemy from its violations
And his aggression to enforce his criminal policies, and seek to bring free people to their knees
At a time when the Islamic Republic, the forces of the axis of resistance, and the free people in the world congratulate the success of this operation after the penetration of the defense systems of the Zionist entity, in addition to the failure of the defenses of the American bases in Iraq and Syria to confront it, which reinforces the assertion that one of its basic functions in the region is to support the entity and its crimes. In the region, we point out that shame will continue to haunt the rulers of Jordan throughout history for participating in confronting the retaliation missiles of the Zionists after they committed the crime of bombing the consulate of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Damascus, the Arab capital of Syria.