Iran has reportedly communicated to the US that it would withhold retaliation for the airstrike that killed senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commanders in Damascus if a ceasefire in Gaza is achieved, as per a report by Jadeh Iran on Sunday.
Quoting an anonymous Arab diplomatic source, the news outlet mentioned that the source conveyed this information two days ago. The source further commented, “If America succeeds in containing the situation, it will be a great success for the Biden administration and we can build on that.”
This development coincides with negotiations for a ceasefire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas in Cairo. Israel is reportedly preparing for a potential response to the airstrike, which both Syria and Iran have blamed on Israel.
The airstrike, which occurred last Monday, targeted the Iranian consulate in Damascus and resulted in the death of IRGC commander Mohammad Reza Zahedi, his deputy, and several other IRGC officers. Zahedi was a key Iranian official responsible for operations in Syria and Lebanon.
Following the Damascus airstrike, Iran has issued several warnings of a “harsh response” against Israel. Reports from US media suggest that both US and Israeli intelligence are concerned that Iran might target Israel directly using cruise missiles and kamikaze drones. These reports suggest that such a response could materialize by the end of the month of Ramadan, expected to conclude either on Tuesday or Wednesday, depending on the sighting of the moon.
In response to these threats, IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi emphasized on Sunday that Israel is prepared to confront Iran effectively.
