Washington. Iran insisted yesterday on its right to an “appropriate and deterrent response” against Israel, while the United States assured that it is prepared for possible “significant attacks” by the Islamic Republic or its allies this week. Washington announced the deployment of its nuclear-powered missile submarine “Georgia” and its aircraft carrier “Abraham Lincoln” to the Middle East and the Israeli air force command suspended its officers’ vacations.

The announced retaliation against Israel would be for the killings of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and Hezbollah commander Fouad Shokor in Beirut, both committed in late July. Israel claimed responsibility for Shokor’s death but made no comment on Haniyeh, for which Hamas and Tehran blame Tel Aviv.

The Israeli military is monitoring Hezbollah and Iran “around the clock,” said Israel Defense Forces spokesman Daniel Hagari. “We take the claims and statements of our enemies seriously, and therefore we are in a state of maximum readiness both offensively and defensively.”

Hagari added that Israel is carrying out attacks in Lebanon “every day.”

Although the Israeli authorities did not give the population instructions to take emergency measures in case of a possible attack, those responsible for safeguarding cultural heritage did take precautions. Works by painters Magritte and Rembrandt, among others, were removed from museums to protected areas.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer praised the “tireless work” of mediators in the negotiations for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and also addressed Tehran.

“We call on Iran and its allies to refrain from attacks that could aggravate regional tensions and jeopardize the opportunity to agree on a ceasefire and the release of the hostages,” they said in a statement.

“They will bear responsibility for actions that jeopardise this opportunity for peace and stability. No country or nation will benefit from further escalation in the Middle East,” Scholz, Macron and Starmer concluded.

Both the German Chancellor and the British Prime Minister expressed their concern in telephone conversations to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who responded: “Iran will never give in to pressure, sanctions and coercion, but it believes it has the right to respond to aggressors, in accordance with international norms.”

Later, US President Joe Biden and the leaders of France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom issued a joint document calling on Tehran to “renounce” its “threats” to attack Israel, which would have “serious consequences” for regional security.

In this regard, they supported the call of the mediators of the conflict between Hamas and Israel (the United States, Egypt and Qatar) to “resume the talks at the end of this week with the aim of concluding the agreement as soon as possible. We emphasize that there is no time to lose.

“Unrestricted delivery and distribution of aid is necessary (in Gaza). We express our support for Israel’s defense against Iranian aggression and against attacks by Iranian-backed terrorist groups.”

The White House warned that any attacks “could have repercussions” scheduled for Thursday on a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners.

In other news, the United States has warned Iran of harsh consequences for providing arms to Russia for the war in Ukraine, after claiming to have obtained reports that Tehran will provide Moscow with ballistic missiles.

“We are deeply concerned by reports that Iran is planning to deliver hundreds of ballistic missiles to Russia. We are prepared to deliver a swift and severe response if Iran moves forward with such a transfer,” said US State Department spokesman Vedant Patel at a press conference yesterday.

The spokesman added that Washington is in communication with its European allies and partners regarding the implementation of possible measures.

Tehran and Moscow have denied Western claims of arms supplies.