Iranian regime's Minister of Defense, Mohammad Reza Ashtiani, claimed that no country in the world is able to confront the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Apparently referring to Iran's long shoreline on the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, Ashtiani claimed Iran's power derives from its strategic location.
Tensions have been rising as Iran and its ally, Hezbollah, have increased their rhetoric against Israel. However, they have refrained from opening new fronts against Israel following a strong warning from Washington.
Israel's retaliation against Hamas, which is supported by Tehran, was triggered by a terror attack last month that claimed the lives of 1,400 people and resulted in more than 200 individuals being taken hostage. Israel's response has included a retaliatory campaign, which extended to a ground offensive last week. While Hamas authorities in Gaza claim that more than 9,000 people have been killed, this figure has not been independently confirmed and may be part of the Islamist group's psychological warfare.
Regarding efforts to attribute the October 7 attack on Israel to Iran, Ashtiani stated, "The Islamic Republic of Iran is influential in the regional and global context, and the world is aware that we possess high capabilities in various fields, making us an influential country."
Israel, which Iran refuses to recognize, has long accused Iran's clerical rulers of stoking violence by supplying arms to Hamas and exerting control over the Gaza Strip, as well as supporting militants in Syria and Lebanon. Tehran maintains that it provides moral, financial, and logistical support to the groups.