Iran shut down its nuclear facilities on the day of its attack on Israel, the Jewish state promises
'response'
to Iran's massive attack, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke on the phone with his counterpart Iranian...
Le Figaro
takes stock of the tensions between Israel and Iran this Tuesday, April 16.
Iran shut down its nuclear facilities on the day of its attack on Israel
Iran closed its nuclear facilities on Sunday, the day of its attack on Israel, the director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, said on Monday. During a press conference on the sidelines of a meeting of the UN Security Council devoted to the Ukrainian Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, Rafael Grossi was asked about the possibility of an Israeli retaliatory strike against Iranian nuclear installations.
“We are still concerned about this possibility
,” replied the head of the IAEA.
“What I can tell you is that our inspectors in Iran were informed by the Iranian government that yesterday (Sunday, Editor's note), all the nuclear facilities that we inspect every day would remain closed for security reasons
, ”
he added.
According to him, the Iranian facilities were to reopen on Monday.
“I have decided not to let the inspectors return until the situation is completely calm. We will resume tomorrow”
(Tuesday, Editor’s note), he explained. This closure
“had no impact on our inspection activities. But of course, we always call for the greatest restraint
,” he continued.
Israel promises
'response'
to Iran's massive attack
Israel vows '
response
' to Iran's massive and unprecedented attack, despite calls from many countries, including its American ally, to avoid escalation in a region already bereaved by the ongoing war in the Strip from Gaza.
Iran launched a direct attack on Israel for the first time this weekend, in retaliation for a strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus on April 1, attributed to Israel, that killed seven members of the Revolutionary Guards. The Israeli army will
“respond to the launch of so many cruise missiles and drones on the territory of the State of Israel
,” declared Monday evening the chief of staff of the Israeli army, General Herzi Halevi, visiting the Nevatim base (south) hit by a strike.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had instead called on the international community to
“remain united”
in the face of
“Iranian aggression, which threatens world peace”
, after this attack was foiled with the support of several of its allies, including Washington.
Calls are increasing to prevent a massive response
Since Sunday, calls have been increasing to prevent a massive response which could further inflame the region, already
“on the edge of the precipice”
, according to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. After standing with its allies against the Iranian attack, the United States said it did not want
"an extended war with Iran"
, and warned that it would not participate in a retaliatory operation.
“Together, with our partners, we defeated this attack”
by Iran, said US President Joe Biden, calling on Israel to avoid an escalation and instead try to work towards a
“ceasefire”
in the Gaza Strip.
In addition to the United States, the United Kingdom and France have also distanced themselves. The head of British diplomacy, David Cameron, ruled out his country's participation in a response and French President Emmanuel Macron called for avoiding a regional
“conflagration”
.
359 drones and missiles intercepted this weekend
Israel announced that it had intercepted, with the help of the United States and other allied countries including France and the United Kingdom, but also Jordan and Saudi Arabia, almost all of the 350 drones and missiles launched this weekend by Iran. Iran said it considered
“the matter closed”
and warned Israel, its sworn enemy, against any
“reckless behavior” which would trigger a
“much stronger”
reaction
on its part.
Chinese Foreign Minister speaks on phone with Iranian counterpart
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke on the telephone with his Iranian counterpart, the official Xinhua news agency reported on Tuesday, specifying that Tehran had once again expressed its
“desire for restraint”
after its unprecedented attack on Israeli territory. According to New China, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian informed Wang Yi of the Iranian position regarding the bombing, attributed to Israel, of an annex of the Iranian embassy in Damascus, Syria.
Still according to the Chinese agency, the Iranian diplomat estimated that the United Nations Security Council
“did not provide the necessary response to this attack”
and that
“Iran has the right to self-defense in response to the violation of its sovereignty
.
Israeli war cabinet meets Sunday and Monday
The Israeli war cabinet chaired by Benjamin Netanyahu, under great pressure to avoid an escalation, met on Sunday then Monday, without a decision being announced on the form that a response could take.
“We will do whatever is necessary to protect the State of Israel, and we will do so on the occasion and at the time we choose
,” army spokesman Admiral Daniel Hagari said Monday. , based on Nevatim.
The army, which on Monday named its operation against Iranian missiles
"Iron Shield"
, released a short video showing a shallow crater along a wall caused by the impact of a projectile when it fell on this base in the south of the country.
The Golden Gate blocked
On Monday in the United States, pro-Palestinian demonstrators blocked the Golden Gate Bridge, the iconic bridge in the city of San Francisco, and unfurled a banner bearing the words:
“Stop the world for Gaza”
.
This protest is part of an initiative called
"A15 Action"
, which seeks to block many major cities around the world,
"in solidarity with Palestine"
.