Iran to strike before US elections? Islamic Republic reportedly plans ‘definitive and painful’ response

Iran is considering launching a retaliatory response to Israel’s strike before the U.S. elections next Tuesday, Nov. 5, CNN reported on Wednesday afternoon.

The U.S. news site reported that a “high-ranking source” told them Israel’s recent strike on Iran will be met with a “definitive and painful” response. 

“The response of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the aggression of the Zionist regime will be definitive and painful,” the source told CNN.

The source also claimed that Iran’s response “will probably take place before the day of the US presidential election.” 

Following the Israeli strikes last week, which hit primarily military targets, there was some hope that Iran would not choose to respond. 

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's comments on Sunday appeared to strike a balance that some analysts hoped would indicate it was not planning to retaliate.

“It is up to the authorities to determine how to convey the power and will of the Iranian people to the Israeli regime and to take actions that serve the interests of this nation and country,” Khamenei said.

Newly appointed Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also appeared to be pushing for restraint.

“We do not seek war, but we will defend the rights of our nation and country.” 

Several Iranian military officials appeared to downplay the significance and damage caused by the Israeli strike. It appeared this was partially an attempt to minimize the demand for a response. 

On Monday, IRGC Commander Maj.-Gen. Hossein Salami claimed that Israel had “failed to achieve its sinister goals.” However, Salami also warned that Israel would face “the bitter consequences” of its actions. 

Remarks issued from this “high-ranking source” appear to signal a departure from Iran’s initial attempts to downplay the severity of the Israeli strikes. 

CNN has reached out to the Israeli military for comments.

In his initial response to last weekend’s strikes, the Iranian regime's leader, Khamenei, opted to give a more measured response, saying the strikes should “neither be exaggerated nor downplayed.”

Israeli defense and security officials claimed to have struck “strategic systems,” including key air defense systems and ballistic missile facilities. 

As Iranian rhetoric became more aggressive in recent days, Israeli leaders warned Iran not to retaliate. Visiting an Israeli Air Force base on Tuesday, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi warned that the IDF is ready for an Iranian response and will respond harshly in return.

“If Iran makes the mistake and launches another barrage of missiles at Israel, we will once again know how to reach Iran, reach even with capabilities that we did not use this time, and hit very, very hard both the capabilities and places that we spared this time,” Halevi said. 

On Wednesday, opposition Knesset Member Avigdor Liberman said Israel should not wait for Iran but should engage in a “preemptive strike.” 

“We must not wait until the Iranians carry out their threats against the State of Israel,” Liberman wrote on 𝕏. “We must switch from waiting to a preemptive strike, from a proportional reaction to a clear defeat.”