Iran to wage full-scale war in case of Israeli aggression

Former Iranian Defense Minister Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani said Iran will reciprocate any Israeli aggression with a full-scale and long term response. "Iran never hits the first strike and has and does never initiate war, but in case of enemy aggression, certainly Iran's reaction will not be temporary," Shamkhani, who heads the Center for Strategic Defense now, told FNA on Wednesday. "They can test it and watch its result," Shamkhani underscored. He further said Iran's might has discouraged enemies from exercising their threats, cautioning that Iran's might and power has made the costs of military action against Iran much higher than its benefits. The remarks by the Iranian military figure came in response to the recent statements of the Israeli home front defense minister who claimed that Israel is prepared for a 30-day war on multiple fronts should it decide to strike Iran. In an interview with Maariv newspaper, Matan Vilnai warned that any military engagement should be weighed carefully, and cautioned that Israel should "always coordinate" with the United States. "The assessments are for a war that will last 30 days on a number of fronts," he said. In similar remarks in June, the Iranian Supreme Leader's top military aide dismissed the possibility of a US or Israeli military move against Iran as "weak", but meantime cautioned that Iran's crushing reprisal for an Israeli attack would force one million Israelis to flee in the first one or two weeks of the conflict. Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi described Israel's Jewish community as "vulnerable", and noted, "The Zionists are living in such international conditions that if they intend to launch an attack against Iran, one million Jews will flee Israel in the first one or two weeks. Jews are very vulnerable there."