Iranian military officials must decide how to respond to Friday evening’s Israeli attack on Iran, but the event should not be minimized or exaggerated, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Sunday in his first response to the attack.

A debate has emerged within Iran over whether Israel’s attack, which is more limited than some had predicted, warrants a military response and whether the country will be seen as weak if it does nothing.

“The evil that the Zionist regime (Israel) committed two nights ago should not be downplayed or exaggerated,” Khamenei said.

Khamenei said Iran’s power must be demonstrated to Israel, adding: “It is up to the authorities to determine how to convey the power and will of the Iranian people to the Israeli regime and to take actions that interests of this nation and this country. ”

His comments suggest no immediate military response is planned as Iran weighs its options.

Tehran on Saturday downplayed Israel’s overnight airstrike on Iranian military targets, saying it caused limited damage, and US President Joe Biden called for a halt to the escalation amid fears of an all-out war in the Middle East.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a speech on Sunday: “The air force attacked all of Iran. We have hit hard Iran’s defense capabilities and its ability to produce missiles aimed at us.

“The attack in Iran was precise and powerful and achieved all its objectives.”

According to anonymous officials quoted in the New York Times, the Israeli strike destroyed air defense systems set up to protect several critical oil and petrochemical refineries and a major gas field. According to the report, air defenses attacked included those around the Bandar Imam Khomeini petrochemical complex and the neighboring port of Bandar Imam Khomeini.

In his initial response, Iran’s president-elect Masoud Pezeshkian mourned the loss of four Iranian soldiers killed in the Israeli attack. In a statement, he added: “Enemies of Iran should know that these brave people fearlessly defend their country and will respond to any stupidity with tact and intelligence.”

Former foreign minister and current government strategic advisor Javad Zarif also made no direct threat of retaliation, instead saying in a lengthy statement: “The West must move away from its outdated and dangerous paradigm. It should condemn Israel’s recent acts of aggression and join Iran’s efforts to end apartheid, genocide and violence in Palestine, Gaza and Lebanon. Recognizing Iran’s confident resolve for peace is essential; you should not miss this unique opportunity.”

The Iranian mission to the UN in New York, often used as a vehicle to convey media messages to the West, accused the US of complicity in the attack since Israeli warplanes attacked Iran from Iraqi airspace: “Iraqi airspace is under occupation , command and control of the United States military. Conclusion: American complicity in this crime is certain.”

The mission has also written to the UN Security Council accusing Israel of violating Iranian sovereignty.

Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s Foreign Minister, added: “It seems that the truth has been fully proven that without America, Israel does not necessarily have any power in the region, not only in the operation it carried out against Iran, but also in all the operations it has carried out. has done in Gaza, Lebanon and other places, we believe America is complicit in all these cases.”

He highlighted the response of countries in the region to the Israeli attack. “Since yesterday (Saturday) until now, we have been receiving regular messages from different countries, the statements they have issued, the level of condemnation from different countries in the region. It is very special that it took place at this international level.”

Iran must weigh the likely diplomatic damage to its improving relations with its Arab partners from mounting a new attack, the impact on the country’s ailing economy, and the likelihood that a further Israeli attack would cause significantly more damage than Friday’s mitigation exercise.

Public support for Iran’s costly foreign policy is fragile, the latest poll from the Middle East Institute shows.