Iran’s Retaliatory Attack on Israel Was Necessary, Proportional, Spokesman Says

IQNA – Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman described the country’s drone and missile strike targeting occupied territories on the weekend as “necessary and proportional”.   

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Nasser Kanaani said the “Operation True Promise” was carried out based on the right to self-defense and in accordance with the United Nations’ Charter. 

It was a response to the Israeli regime’s crimes and acts of aggression, particularly the regime’s recent move to attack the Iranian diplomatic mission in the Syrian capital of Damascus, he stated.

Kanaani said the Islamic Republic of Iran, especially the country’s armed forces and diplomatic apparatus, acted quite professionally and responsibly in reaction to the Israeli regime’s act of aggression.

He added that Iran is not seeking to escalate tensions and while remaining committed to international laws, will act based on its deterrent power to prevent its red lines from being crossed.

Kanaani also dismissed the UK prime minister’s stances on Iran’s anti-Israeli operation, saying the British government had remained silent on the Zionist regime’s attack on Iranian diplomatic mission and has turned a blind eye to the regime’s other crimes.  

Late on Saturday and in the early hours of Sunday, Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) launched “extensive” retaliatory missile and drone strikes against the occupied territories in retaliation for the Israeli regime’s attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus that led to the martyrdom of seven IRGC members on April 1.

The Corps announced launching the strikes in a statement on Saturday night, defining the mission as “Operation True Promise”.

Opening the statement with verse 22 of Surah As-Sajdah which reads “We will take revenge on the criminal,” the IRGC said “In response to the Zionist regime’s numerous crimes, including the attack on the consular section of Iran’s Embassy in Damascus and the martyrdom of a number of our country’s commanders and military advisors in Syria, the IRGC’s Aerospace Division launched tens of missiles and drones against certain targets inside the occupied territories.”

It also closed the statement by quoting verse 126 of Surah Al-Imran: “No victory is real unless it is from God, the Majestic and All-wise.”

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