Reference News Network August 19 report - According to AFP on August 18, an Iranian official warned on August 18 that a war with Israel could break out at any time, and said the calm after the 12-day conflict in June was only a temporary pause.
The report said that Iran's first vice president Mohammad Reza Aref stated, "We must always be prepared for confrontation; we have not yet reached a ceasefire agreement, but are only in a pause of hostilities."
The report mentioned that during the conflict in June this year, Israel bombed Iran's nuclear facilities, military bases, and residential areas, killing more than 1,000 people, including several senior Iranian commanders and nuclear scientists. In response, Iran retaliated with missile and drone attacks, resulting in dozens of deaths in Israel.
Two days after the United States bombed Iran's nuclear facilities, it announced a ceasefire between Iran and Israel. However, at that time, no formal ceasefire agreement was reached, and hostilities were only temporarily suspended informally.
The report also said that on the 17th, Yahya Rahim Safavi, a military advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei, stated that Iran is "preparing plans for the worst-case scenario."
He told Iran's "Etemad" newspaper: "We are not currently in a ceasefire state, but in a state of war, and hostilities could resume at any time. There are no agreements, regulations or arrangements between us and Israel, or between us and the United States."
He added: "A ceasefire means stopping attacks, but this state can change at any time." (Translated by Wu Mei)
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7540177687827055143/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author. Please express your opinion by clicking on the [Up/Down] buttons below.