Iran attack on Israel stokes celebration, fears in Tehran
TEHRAN -- Weekend festivities to mark the end of Ramadan were drawing to a close when Bahareh, a marketing manager in Tehran, heard the news that Iran had launched an attack on Israel. The 45-year-old had little doubt about her feelings.
"Iran had to respond, both for political reasons and because its reputation was at stake," she told Nikkei Asia. "This strike will probably prevent Israel from becoming bolder and our rivals will realize that Iran has the ability and courage to harm them.
"But of course, there is a danger to these actions," Bahareh added. "They can always get out of hand."
The streets of Iran's capital have been filled with a mix of happiness and righteous revenge -- punctuated by noisy demonstrations -- but also worry about devastating reprisals as the attack on the country's longtime foe stokes fears of wider conflict in the Middle East.
Iran's missile-and-drone strike, which caused little damage, was its first direct attack on Israel. Retaliation, Tehran said, for a suspected Israeli bombing of its embassy in Syria on April 1.
In the central city of Isfahan, supporters gathered at the grave of Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi, the most senior of several Iranian military commanders killed in the Damascus embassy attack.
Iran's retaliatory attack involved more than 300 missiles and drones, but most were shot down by Israel's missile defense system and with help from allies including the U.S., Britain, France.
Reza, a 54-year-old architect, said Iran could not leave the embassy attack unanswered, as the government moved to calm people calling for retribution.
"There won't be further confrontation," said Reza, who like others declined to give his surname for personal security reasons. "Iran's soil was attacked, and Iran responded after a long period of patience."
On Tuesday, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi pushed back at Israel's threats of retaliation and calls for sanctions.
"We categorically declare that the smallest action against Iranian interests will certainly be met with a severe, widespread and painful response against any perpetrator," Raisi was quoted as saying by state media.
Tehran's tit-for-tat response has prompted calls for restraint by the Group of Seven democracies, while U.S. President Joe Biden told Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu that the U.S. would not participate in an Israeli counter-strike.
"We don't want to see a war with Iran. We don't want to see a regional conflict," White House national security spokesman John Kirby said Monday.
For its part, China said Iran could "handle the situation well and spare the region further turmoil."
"The U.S. is not ready for a war with Iran," said Shahram, 64, a financial consultant in Tehran.
Student Zahra also put the chances of a U.S.-Iran war at "zero." But she fears what else the Israel attack may bring as Iranians struggle with a weak economy and previous U.S.-led economic sanctions targeting Iran's nuclear program.
"I'm worried that in the future Iran will face costly consequences such as increased sanctions," the 22-year-old said. "It'll be mostly the middle class and the poor ... who will have to bear the financial consequences."
Some doubt the retaliatory attack boosted Iran's own security. Since the war in Gaza began in October, clashes have erupted between Israel and Iran-aligned groups in Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and Iraq.
"Not only was this not a deterrent, but it made the justification for Israel hurting Iran's interests easier," said Tehran retiree Javad. "This, in no way, increased Iran's security."
Others warned that Iran's response was likely to make Israel bolder.
"[The attack] completely unraveled our deterrence weaknesses," said lawyer Hamzeh. "I am very worried about confrontation and further escalation. This will make Israel more daring."