Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei has today reacted for the first time to his nation's attack on Israelearlier this month, claiming his military 'displayed power' despite failing to hit any significant targets.
Khamenei tried downplaying the failure of theIslamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to hit significant targets with its 300-strong salvo of drones and missiles sent to Israel in April 13.
He said: 'How many missiles were launched and how many of them hit their target is not the primary question, what really matters is that Iran demonstrated its will-power during that operation.'
The leader, who celebrated his 85th birthday on Friday, the same day Israel retaliated with a strike in the strategically importantIsfahan province, seemingly called for an escalation in tensions between Tehran and Jerusalem.
He called on the IRCG to 'ceaselessly pursue military innovation and learn the enemy's tactics.'
Iran fired the salvo of drones and missiles to Israel in response to an Israeli missile attack against an Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria, at the beginning of the month
A view shows drones or missiles vying for targets at undisclosed locations in northern Israel
He today spoke with 'a number of commanders of the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran', his official account on X said.
READ MORE:Satellite imagery reveals damage at Iranian air base following Israeli strike after Tehran launched unprecedented 300-drone attack on Jewish state - amid fears that Middle East tinderbox could explode
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His account added in a later post: 'I sincerely appreciate the armed forces efforts and achievements in Operation 'True Promise' that was carried out against the Zionist regime.
'In Operation True Promise, the armed forces showed a good image of their capabilities and power and an admirable image of the Iranian nation. They also proved the emergence of the power of the Iranian nation's determination at the international level.
'The armed forces recent achievements have created a sense of splendor and magnificence about Islamic Iran in the eyes of the world and among international observers.'
Iran fired the salvo of drones and missiles to Israel in response to an Israeli missile attack against an Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria, at the beginning of the month that killed seven people, including two top generals of the IRGC.
The salvo took several hours to reach Israel, but only one person was injured, a seven-year-old girl who was critically injured by falling shrapnel.
In response, Israel launched a missile that struck theIsfahan province, home to many of Iran's military and nuclear sites.
Khamenei (pictured) tried downplaying the failure of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to hit significant targets with its 300-strong salvo of drones and missiles
He today spoke with 'a number of commanders of the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran'
Iran has officially said it has no plans to retaliate, and has downplayed the damage suffered by the attack.
But Iran appears to be trying to mend relations with its neighbours, with presidentEbrahim Raisi revealing he will be travelling to Pakistan on Monday to meet with his counterpart, presidentAsif Ali Zardari.
Pakistan's foreign ministry said today that Raisi will be accompanied by 'a high-level delegation comprising the foreign minister... as well as a large business delegation.'
It comes just three months after Iran and Pakistan engaged in a tit-for-tat series of missile strikes that stoked regional tensions.
Tehran carried out the strikes against an anti-Iran group in Pakistan the same week it targeted Iraq and Syria.
Pakistan responded with a raid on 'militant targets' in Iran's Sistan-Balochistan province, one of the few mainly Sunni Muslim regions in Shiite-dominated Iran.
Both countries have in the past accused each other of sheltering militants.
A visit to Islamabad by Tehran's foreign minister led to the two sides pledging to improve dialogue and install liaison officers in both countries.
Sistan-Balochistan province has for years faced unrest involving cross-border drug-smuggling gangs and rebels from the Baloch ethnic minority, and Muslim extremists.
Raisi will also visit Lahore and Karachi to meet provincial leaders, according to the statement.
The countries will further strengthen ties and enhance cooperation in 'trade, connectivity, energy, agriculture, and people-to-people contacts', it added.
Pakistan is counting on a joint gas project with Iran to solve a long-running power crisis that has sapped its economic growth.
A $7.5-billion Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline intended to feed Pakistani power plants was inaugurated with great fanfare in March 2013.
But the project immediately stagnated following international sanctions on Iran.
Tehran has built its own section of the 1,100-mile pipeline, which should eventually link its South Pars gas fields to the Pakistani city of Nawabshah, near Karachi.
In February, Pakistan's outgoing caretaker government approved the construction of an 80-kilometer section of the pipeline, primarily to avoid the payment of billions of dollars in penalties to Iran due to years of delays.
Washington has warned that Pakistan could face US sanctions, saying it does not support the pipeline going forward.
