Local media reported that Iran launched approximately 200 missiles toward Israel on Tuesday evening, with state television accompanying the footage with upbeat music. The broadcasts showcased celebrations in the capital and other cities, where a few hundred people gathered to mark the attacks. Many displayed the yellow flag of Hezbollah, Iran’s ally in Lebanon, alongside portraits of its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike the previous week.
At a rally in Palestine Square in central Tehran, 29-year-old Hedyeh Gholizadeh expressed a sense of pride in Iran’s response, noting the pressure on the nation to react to perceived Israeli provocations. “We are ready to accept all the consequences, whatever they may be, and we are ready to pay the penalty and we have no fear,” she declared.
However, by Wednesday morning, the atmosphere in Tehran had returned to normal, with bustling traffic and cafes filled with customers, showing little evidence of the previous night’s celebrations.
The Israeli government has promised to retaliate against the missile attacks, a stance echoed by the United States, which has left some residents feeling uneasy about the potential escalation into a full-blown conflict.
“I am really worried because if Israel wants to take retaliatory measures, it will lead to an expansion of the war,” voiced Mansour Firouzabadi, a 45-year-old nurse in Tehran. “Everyone is worried about it.”
Analysts interpret the recent Iranian missile strike as a reaction to a series of setbacks faced by Tehran and its efforts to cultivate alliances in Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, Syria, and the Palestinian territories. The situation escalated following the deaths of prominent figures, including Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander Abbas Nilforoushan, as well as the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31.
Ali Vaez from the International Crisis Group, a Brussels-based think tank, noted that Iran took “a calculated risk in April” by launching missiles and drones at Israel, marking its first direct attack, despite most of the projectiles being intercepted. This missile barrage was initiated in response to an Israeli airstrike on Iran’s consulate in Damascus, which resulted in the deaths of two Iranian generals.
“Following an even bolder move on Tuesday, the regime’s actions indicate the escalating challenges it faces as its key partners are weakened on various fronts,” stated Vaez. He added that “not responding could have further damaged its credibility with these allies, creating an impression that Tehran was content to remain passive.”
According to local media, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is expected to deliver a rare speech during Friday prayers this week, where he will likely outline the government’s future direction. The last time Khamenei led Friday prayers was after Iran fired ballistic missiles at U.S. bases in Iraq in retaliation for the 2020 assassination of revered Revolutionary Guards commander Qasem Soleimani in a U.S. drone strike near Baghdad.
During a gathering of Iranian students on Wednesday, Khamenei expressed that he is still mourning Nasrallah, calling his death “not a small matter.”
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that Iran refrained from responding to the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran during his inauguration in July, fearing it could undermine U.S.-backed efforts for a ceasefire in the Gaza conflict. However, he claimed on Sunday that the promises made by the U.S. and its allies regarding a “ceasefire in exchange for Iran’s non-reaction to Haniyeh’s assassination were completely false.”
As Israel’s military campaign intensifies, particularly against Hezbollah in neighboring Lebanon, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that Tehran “made a big mistake tonight and will pay for it” following Iran’s missile attack. The United States echoed these sentiments, warning of “severe consequences.”
Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett called for a decisive strike to eliminate Iran’s nuclear facilities. Meanwhile, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps threatened a “crushing attack” if Israel retaliated and cautioned against any direct military intervention in support of Israel.
Ali Vaez from the International Crisis Group noted that while Tehran has signaled that “the chapter is closed,” the reality is quite different. He emphasized, “The final word on this conflict lies not with Iran, but with Israel and the United States.” Vaez added that the current developments in Gaza, Lebanon, and the Houthi movement in Yemen suggest that this confrontation is far from over.
