Iran lashes out at Israel after Mossad threatens to hit 'top echelon' in Tehran
The flare-up in the harsh rhetoric was the latest episode in yearslong allegations between the two enemies, who blame one another for "terror" plots targeting their respective citizens worldwide.
TEHRAN — Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanani said his country will not hesitate to respond to "foolish" moves by the Israeli government, as the war of words between the two enemies is escalating.
Addressing reporters in Tehran on Monday, Kanani was reacting to a recent warning from David Barnea, director of Israel's foreign intelligence agency, Mossad. Barnea has accused Iran of intensifying its worldwide "terror" campaign against Israeli citizens and Jewish targets. He warned that should Iran harm Israeli citizens, his country will hit the "highest echelon … in the heart of Tehran."
"Such an overt announcement of plots to assassinate the officials of a country is only indicative of the nature of this terrorist regime," Kanani declared, arguing that Israel has a proven record of "resorting to terrorist moves to achieve its illegitimate objectives."
The Islamic Republic and the Jewish state have been exchanging accusations about the targeting of their citizens, both on their respective soil and abroad. Most notably, Iran blames Israel for a chain of killings of its nuclear and missile experts since 2010. Most of the attacks occurred in or around the capital, Tehran, with Israel neither denying nor confirming involvement.
