Iran's Leader Praises Military Strength

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has lauded the Iranian Armed Forces for displaying a commendable image of strength and military prowess in the wake of Operation True Promise, stating they created a feeling of glory about the Islamic nation.

Addressing a group of high-ranking Iranian military commanders and figures in the capital Tehran, Ayatollah Khamenei said the Iranian forces have sincerely and successfully managed to present a good image of their abilities and authority after punishing Israel, exhibited a commendable picture of the Iranian nation, and proved the emergence of Iranians' willpower in the international arena.

The Leader congratulated the advent of the National Army Day and the founding of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps stressing that the latest developments have created a sense of grandeur and magnificence about Islamic Iran in the eyes of the world and international observers.

Ayatollah Khamenei said the high number of missiles and drones launched during Operation True Promise against targets inside the Israeli-occupied territories is a secondary and peripheral matter, stressing that the main issue is the manifestation of the willpower of the Iranian nation and armed forces across the globe, the proof of which is the Tel Aviv regime’s distress and discomfort.

Iran and Israel appeared to have stepped back from the brink of a broader conflict following Friday's attack, which Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian appeared to downplay to US media.

He dismissed it as "no attack" and said the weapons used were "at the level of toys", adding that if there was "no new adventure" by Israel then Iran "will have no response".

The comments helped to dampen fears of an all-out war between the arch-foes which could spread into a wider regional conflict.