Iran Calls Threat From Israel’s Military ‘Psychological Warfare’

Israeli defense minister said IDF chief should have discussed attacks on Iran in a 'closed room'

A day after the head of Israel’s military said he ordered new plans to be drawn up to strike Iran, an Iranian official dismissed the comments as “psychological warfare.”

“They talk more and seek psychological warfare, and they have virtually no plan, no ability, and no capability to do so,” Mahmoud Vaezi, the chief of staff to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, said on Wednesday.

When Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Aviv Kohavi made the threatening comments on Tuesday, he also expressed his opposition to the Biden Administration rejoining the Iran nuclear deal. But Vaezi did not seem too concerned with Israel’s influence on the Biden administration.

“Of course, some officials of the Zionist regime think that whatever they say, Washington will accept it,” Vaezi said. “But I think the new US administration, like other countries, has its independence.”

Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz also addressed Kohavi’s threats on Wednesday. Gantz isn’t happy that Kohavi announced the new military plans publicly. “Of course Israel must be prepared to defend itself in any way, but red lines are drawn in closed rooms,” he said.

While Gantz didn’t seem to approve Kohavi’s comments, Israeli media said Kohavi likely wouldn’t have made the threats without the approval of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

As a candidate, President Biden said he would work with Iran to restore the nuclear deal. But one week into his administration, Iran is still under crippling sanctions, and the US continues military provocations. A B-52 bomber was deployed from the US to the Middle East on Wednesday, a provocative maneuver aimed at Iran.

Author: Dave DeCamp

Dave DeCamp is the news editor of Antiwar.com, follow him on Twitter @decampdave.