Iran warns missiles ready over Israeli threats to Beirut amid rising tensions

An Iranian adviser to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said missiles are ready in response to Israeli threats against Beirut, reaffirming Tehran’s support for Hezbollah. He warned of stronger retaliation if conflict resumes and described the Strait of Hormuz as a strategic deterrent. The remarks come amid ongoing regional tensions despite fragile ceasefires.

A top military adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, said on Thursday that missiles had been prepared for possible launch in response to Israeli threats against Beirut’s southern suburbs, highlighting Tehran’s continued support for Hezbollah amid rising tensions in the Middle East.
Speaking on Iranian state television, Mohsen Rezaei accused Israel of using pressure tactics in Lebanon as part of a broader strategy to gain leverage in negotiations involving Iran. He warned that Lebanon would remain a central factor in any future regional settlement and reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to backing its allied groups across the region.
Rezaei said Iran’s support for Hezbollah is tied to what he described as strategic credibility, arguing that countries which abandon their partners risk weakening their influence and regional standing. He further warned that any renewed escalation would expose northern Israel to conditions he described as “far more difficult” than those experienced during a recent 40-day conflict.
He also referred to the Strait of Hormuz as a significant deterrent under Iran’s influence, stating that while the waterway should remain open to commercial shipping, it should not be used as a tool for military pressure or geopolitical coercion.
In addition, the adviser called for the release of at least $24 billion in frozen Iranian assets, saying such a step could help build trust and support ongoing diplomatic engagement between Iran and other global actors.
The remarks come against a volatile regional backdrop marked by repeated flare-ups. Tensions escalated after US and Israeli strikes on Iran earlier this year, which triggered retaliatory attacks from Tehran and led to the temporary closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Although a ceasefire brokered through Pakistan took effect in April, broader negotiations aimed at reaching a lasting agreement remain fragile and uncertain.
In Lebanon, hostilities have continued despite a ceasefire reached in mid-April. Israeli strikes and warnings about possible expansion of operations around Beirut have increased fears that the conflict could widen again, even as US-led diplomatic efforts continue in an attempt to maintain the truce and prevent further escalation in the region.