In a stark escalation of rhetoric following alleged missile launches from Iran, Israel’s far-right Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, has issued a ominous warning, declaring “Tehran will shake.” The brief but potent statement was posted on X shortly after Israel claimed to have detected missile activity from Iranian territory.
Smotrich, a key ally of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a prominent figure in Israel’s nationalist Religious Zionism party, has a history of hardline stances. His statement directly follows an order from Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, who has instructed the military to “respond forcefully to Iran’s violation of the ceasefire.”
The incendiary comments from Smotrich deepen the already volatile situation, which is characterized by wildly conflicting accounts of recent events. While Israel asserts that Iran has breached a ceasefire, reportedly brokered by US President Donald Trump, by firing missiles, Iranian state media, including statements from the General Staff of the Armed Forces, continue to vehemently deny any such attacks.
The supposed ceasefire itself remains a point of contention. Although President Trump announced a “complete and total” ceasefire, Iranian officials have previously indicated that any cessation of military operations would be conditional on Israel halting its “illegal aggression.”
As reports from both sides remain at odds, Smotrich’s post serves as a potent reminder of the deep-seated animosity and the potential for rapid escalation. The international community is bracing for any major developments, as the threat of a wider conflict in the Middle East looms large.
Source: http://thepressradio.com
