An Iranian official issued a warning that any entities entering the conflict against Iran will be deemed “legitimate targets” for Tehran’s retaliatory actions.
Majid Takht-Ravanchi made this statement as Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian apologized on Saturday to neighboring nations that had been targeted by the Iranian regime.
“We’ve already notified European countries and others that they need to avoid getting entangled in this aggressive war against Iran,” Takht-Ravanchi told the network. “I won’t name specific countries, but if any nation aids or joins the U.S. and Israel in their aggression against Iran, they will undoubtedly become legitimate targets for Iranian retaliation.”
“This war was forced upon us, and we will continue to respond to the best of our capabilities,” he added. “We have a duty to defend our people, and that’s precisely what we’re doing.”
Takht-Ravanchi also claimed Iran had been acting in good faith in nuclear program talks with the U.S. before America launched Operation Epic Fury and Israel began Operation Roaring Lion on Feb. 28.
“We are sincere in our efforts to reach a peaceful resolution to this issue,” he told France24.
Pezeshkian stated on Saturday that any future Iranian attacks will solely be in response to assaults on the country.
“I want to apologize, on my own behalf, to the neighboring countries that were attacked by Iran,” he said, according to The Associated Press. “Moving forward, Iran will not attack neighboring nations or fire missiles at them unless we are first attacked by those countries. I believe this should be resolved through diplomacy.”
Pezeshkian delivered the apology during a prerecorded televised speech on Saturday following Iran’s attacks on Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Oman.
Despite this vow, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ministry of Defense said on Saturday that its air defense systems intercepted 16 ballistic missiles—15 were destroyed, and one fell into the sea.
Digital’s Elizabeth Pritchett and