Iran appears to be using the Gaza ceasefire as a means to climb down from its promise to attack Israel ~ Elder Of Ziyon

Wednesday, January 22, 2025

Iran appears to be using the Gaza ceasefire as a means to climb down from its promise to attack Israel

For over two months, Iran has pledged to respond to Israel's late October attack with a devastating blow they call "True Promise 3."

They know that Israel attacked with impunity and that their air defenses did literally nothing to stop it. So they have been stuck between a solemn promise to respond - which Iranian officials have pledged hundreds of times since then - and the knowledge that any Israeli response would be no holds barred, likely targeting economic targets like ports and oil depots, unlike the October operation.

Iran's already tenuous economy cannot absorb such a blow. But its honor makes it difficult for it to abandon this "promise" of an attack.

Right before the ceasefire, Khabar Online gave the first excuse for Iran not attacking: Iran wants to deter Israel but does not want to things to escalate into a war. It is seeking a "balanced approach to reducing tensions."

Over the past week, with the Gaza ceasefire, Iran's propagandists appear to have struck a new way to avoid fulfilling the "promise": by declaring victory by the Axis of Resistance, and claiming that the previous two attacks have been instrumental in that victory.

Iranian media is filled with declarations of victory, including this hilarious article in the IRGC-run Defa Press that celebrates "victory" by showing a billboard with major "axis of resistance" leaders killed by Israel.

Iran is soliciting its terrorist allies to thank them for their role in Hamas' "victory."

Islamic Jihad's secretary-general Ziad Al-Nakhala said, "Our brothers in the Islamic Republic of Iran have been providing us with full support for the past decades and continue to do so. The Islamic Republic of Iran reached its peak of support with Operation True Promise. We cannot forget our brothers in the Islamic Republic of Iran who stood by our people with all their resources."

A Hamas official similarly thanked Iran for its attacks on Israel in April and early October, claiming that they helped Hamas' supposed victory. So did popular Hamas spokesman Abu Obeida. So did the deputy political head of Hamas Khalil al-Hayya.

These are not spontaneous expressions. Iran told its clients to issue these statements - apparently so it could claim that there is no longer a reason for the promised crushing revenge Iran pledged to inflict on Israel.

At least one Iranian newspaper literally said that the ceasefire fulfilled "True Promise," implying that a third attack is not necessary.

The head of the Islamic Propaganda Coordination Council of Khorasan Razavi said that Iranian unity is effectively the same as an armed attack. "This year's Bahman 22 march will fulfill the work of Operation True Promise 3. The presence of the people will expose the soft power of the Islamic Republic regime to the enemies. The enemy is seeking to distance the people from the Islamic Republic regime through high prices and maximum sanctions. All organs and departments must have a lively presence with all their personnel in the Bahman 22 march." Apparently, Iran not falling yet is another victory, and not only that, but it may even obviate the need for another attack on Israel.

While there are still some noises about the promised attack - for example, a staged rally of women in Mashhad demanding the revenge attack on Israel - it sure looks from Iranian media that the regime has finally found a way to excuse itself from its promise.