Iran’s president says attack on Israel based on country’s ‘legitimate self-defense rights'

By Syed Zafar Mehdi

TEHRAN (AA) - Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said missile strikes on Israel are based on the country’s “legitimate self-defense​​​​​​​ rights”, noting that a “decisive response” was given to the “aggression” of Israel.

In a statement posted on X on Tuesday, Pezeshkian said the action was “in defense of the interests and citizens of Iran.”

“Let Netanyahu know that Iran is not a belligerent, but it stands firmly against any threat. This is only a corner of our power. Do not enter into a conflict with Iran,” read the statement.

Iran fired hundreds of ballistic missiles at Israel amid heightened tensions between the arch-rivals.

In a statement, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRCG) said the attack was in response to the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, Hassan Nasrallah and Abbas Nilforoshan.

Haniyeh, the former leader of Hamas, was assassinated in Tehran in July. Nasrallah, the former leader of Hezbollah, was assassinated in Beirut on Friday along with IRGC commander Nilforoshan.

IRGC said the attack was in line with the country’s right to legitimate self-defense under the United Nations Charter, warning that if Israel responds to this attack, it will face more “crushing response.”

In a follow-up statement, the IRGC said three Israeli military bases in Tel Aviv were hit by missiles.

It is still not known whether the missiles struck their targets and if there were any casualties or damages.

The Iranian mission to the United Nations also issued a statement, saying the missile attack was a “legal, rational, and legitimate” response to the “terrorist acts” of Israel.

Meanwhile, Jafar Yazerlu, spokesperson for Iran's Civil Aviation Organization, announced that all flights in the country have been canceled until 10:00 a.m. (0630GMT) tomorrow for flight safety reasons.

Yazerlu stated: "Due to the situation in the region and missile attacks, all flights in the country have been canceled until 10:00 a.m. tomorrow for flight safety," Iran's official news agency IRNA reported.

He added that new flight schedules would be announced later.