٠٠:٠٥:٤٣No access EU media/EU territory
Representative of the Jewish community in Iran's Parliament Homayoun Sameyah Najaf-Abadi said that Tehran 'defended its national interests' in its attack on Israel and endorsed the nation's military operation during an interview filmed in the Iranian capital on Monday.
"Many Jews oppose the brutal aggression of the Zionist Regime. [...] While the government and the establishment support the Jewish community 100 percent, we will not bite the hand that feeds us. And we support the Islamic Republic establishment and follow the sayings of the Leader [Ayatollah Khamenei]," the representative said.
"Iran defended its national interests. An attack on the Iranian consulate on any soil is an attack on Iranian soil, and of course, Iran was allowed to respond, in my opinion, if [Iran] did not respond, it would increase the possibility of war because it would make [Israel] more aggressive," he added.
Najaf-Abadi claimed that Tel Aviv has been attacking 'the interests of Iran' for several months, reiterating allegations of Israel 'assassinating Iranian military officials.' He also warned the Jewish state against responding to the Iranian attack and escalating tensions.
"If Israel wants to act intelligently, it will decrease the tension in the region by conducting no response to Iran's attack. But if it wants to generate tension, unfortunately, this war can spread all over the region," he said.
Najaf-Abadi also alleged that Israel intended to 'invade Gaza' before Hamas's attack on October 7. He claims the state used the events of October 7 as an 'excuse' to 'invade' the strip.
"October 7 became an excuse for the regime to invade Gaza under this pretext [of self-defence]," he said. "Therefore, the [Israeli] reaction was beyond expectation and unfortunately, global powers and international organisations delayed condemning this issue."
Iran launched hundreds of drones and missiles towards Israel on Saturday night in Tehran’s first direct attack on the Jewish state, signalling a major escalation of tensions in the region.
The attack came as a response to the alleged Israeli airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus on April 1, which killed at least seven members of Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), including a senior Quds Force commander.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed Iran had launched '300 threats of various types' towards Israel, adding that '99 percent' of the rockets and drones had been intercepted. At the same time, defence minister Yoav Gallant reported that 'very little damage was caused' due to the attack.
IRGC Chief of Staff Mohammad Bagheri has warned that Tehran would launch a 'much bigger' offensive if Israel were to target Iranian soil in response to Saturday’s attack.
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said Washington had intercepted 'dozens of missiles and UAVs' before they had entered Israeli airspace. President Joe Biden reiterated his 'ironclad' support for the Jewish state and said he will convene a G7 meeting on Sunday.
Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged both sides to exercise restraint and said he was 'deeply alarmed', warning of a 'very real danger' of a 'major military confrontation' on multiple fronts in the Middle East. An emergency UN Security Council meeting was held on Sunday.
'We will not bite the hand that feeds us' - Iranian Jewish community representative backs Tehran following strikes on Israel
Representative of the Jewish community in Iran's Parliament Homayoun Sameyah Najaf-Abadi said that Tehran 'defended its national interests' in its attack on Israel and endorsed the nation's military operation during an interview filmed in the Iranian capital on Monday.
"Many Jews oppose the brutal aggression of the Zionist Regime. [...] While the government and the establishment support the Jewish community 100 percent, we will not bite the hand that feeds us. And we support the Islamic Republic establishment and follow the sayings of the Leader [Ayatollah Khamenei]," the representative said.
"Iran defended its national interests. An attack on the Iranian consulate on any soil is an attack on Iranian soil, and of course, Iran was allowed to respond, in my opinion, if [Iran] did not respond, it would increase the possibility of war because it would make [Israel] more aggressive," he added.
Najaf-Abadi claimed that Tel Aviv has been attacking 'the interests of Iran' for several months, reiterating allegations of Israel 'assassinating Iranian military officials.' He also warned the Jewish state against responding to the Iranian attack and escalating tensions.
"If Israel wants to act intelligently, it will decrease the tension in the region by conducting no response to Iran's attack. But if it wants to generate tension, unfortunately, this war can spread all over the region," he said.
Najaf-Abadi also alleged that Israel intended to 'invade Gaza' before Hamas's attack on October 7. He claims the state used the events of October 7 as an 'excuse' to 'invade' the strip.
"October 7 became an excuse for the regime to invade Gaza under this pretext [of self-defence]," he said. "Therefore, the [Israeli] reaction was beyond expectation and unfortunately, global powers and international organisations delayed condemning this issue."
Iran launched hundreds of drones and missiles towards Israel on Saturday night in Tehran’s first direct attack on the Jewish state, signalling a major escalation of tensions in the region.
The attack came as a response to the alleged Israeli airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus on April 1, which killed at least seven members of Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), including a senior Quds Force commander.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed Iran had launched '300 threats of various types' towards Israel, adding that '99 percent' of the rockets and drones had been intercepted. At the same time, defence minister Yoav Gallant reported that 'very little damage was caused' due to the attack.
IRGC Chief of Staff Mohammad Bagheri has warned that Tehran would launch a 'much bigger' offensive if Israel were to target Iranian soil in response to Saturday’s attack.
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said Washington had intercepted 'dozens of missiles and UAVs' before they had entered Israeli airspace. President Joe Biden reiterated his 'ironclad' support for the Jewish state and said he will convene a G7 meeting on Sunday.
Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged both sides to exercise restraint and said he was 'deeply alarmed', warning of a 'very real danger' of a 'major military confrontation' on multiple fronts in the Middle East. An emergency UN Security Council meeting was held on Sunday.
No access EU media/EU territory
Representative of the Jewish community in Iran's Parliament Homayoun Sameyah Najaf-Abadi said that Tehran 'defended its national interests' in its attack on Israel and endorsed the nation's military operation during an interview filmed in the Iranian capital on Monday.
"Many Jews oppose the brutal aggression of the Zionist Regime. [...] While the government and the establishment support the Jewish community 100 percent, we will not bite the hand that feeds us. And we support the Islamic Republic establishment and follow the sayings of the Leader [Ayatollah Khamenei]," the representative said.
"Iran defended its national interests. An attack on the Iranian consulate on any soil is an attack on Iranian soil, and of course, Iran was allowed to respond, in my opinion, if [Iran] did not respond, it would increase the possibility of war because it would make [Israel] more aggressive," he added.
Najaf-Abadi claimed that Tel Aviv has been attacking 'the interests of Iran' for several months, reiterating allegations of Israel 'assassinating Iranian military officials.' He also warned the Jewish state against responding to the Iranian attack and escalating tensions.
"If Israel wants to act intelligently, it will decrease the tension in the region by conducting no response to Iran's attack. But if it wants to generate tension, unfortunately, this war can spread all over the region," he said.
Najaf-Abadi also alleged that Israel intended to 'invade Gaza' before Hamas's attack on October 7. He claims the state used the events of October 7 as an 'excuse' to 'invade' the strip.
"October 7 became an excuse for the regime to invade Gaza under this pretext [of self-defence]," he said. "Therefore, the [Israeli] reaction was beyond expectation and unfortunately, global powers and international organisations delayed condemning this issue."
Iran launched hundreds of drones and missiles towards Israel on Saturday night in Tehran’s first direct attack on the Jewish state, signalling a major escalation of tensions in the region.
The attack came as a response to the alleged Israeli airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus on April 1, which killed at least seven members of Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), including a senior Quds Force commander.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed Iran had launched '300 threats of various types' towards Israel, adding that '99 percent' of the rockets and drones had been intercepted. At the same time, defence minister Yoav Gallant reported that 'very little damage was caused' due to the attack.
IRGC Chief of Staff Mohammad Bagheri has warned that Tehran would launch a 'much bigger' offensive if Israel were to target Iranian soil in response to Saturday’s attack.
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said Washington had intercepted 'dozens of missiles and UAVs' before they had entered Israeli airspace. President Joe Biden reiterated his 'ironclad' support for the Jewish state and said he will convene a G7 meeting on Sunday.
Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged both sides to exercise restraint and said he was 'deeply alarmed', warning of a 'very real danger' of a 'major military confrontation' on multiple fronts in the Middle East. An emergency UN Security Council meeting was held on Sunday.