Iran hardliner echoes Rubio’s ‘head for an eye’ line in swipe at Araghchi
A hardline Iranian lawmaker criticized Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s warning that Iran’s defense doctrine was “an eye for an eye,” arguing it was not sufficiently deterrent and adopting language used hours earlier by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Araghchi wrote on X that Iran’s defense doctrine was clear: “eye for an eye,” warning that any attack on Iran, including its infrastructure, would trigger a “powerful and decisive response” and that those supporting such attacks would also be considered legitimate targets.
Hamid Rasaei responded: “We’ve said and written it a hundred times. Here’s the 101st time. The defense doctrine of ‘an eye for an eye’ is wrong because it is not deterrent. The defense doctrine of ‘a head for an eye’ is correct because it is deterrent.”
Rubio said earlier on Thursday that President Donald Trump’s policy toward Iran was “a head for an eye,” warning Tehran it would pay a heavy price for attacks on Americans and US interests.