'Strikes on Israel, legitimate defense'

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has affirmed that recent military strikes against Israel were carried out within Iran’s legal rights, ensuring stability and security for Iran and the wider region.

On Tuesday night, Iran launched approximately 180 ballistic missiles, including hypersonic models, targeting military installations in Tel Aviv.

In a message posted on X (formerly Twitter), Pezeshkian issued a stern warning to Israel, underscoring Iran's firm response to what he described as ongoing aggression by the Zionist regime.

The missile strikes followed a series of assassinations carried out by Israel, both within the Iranian borders and abroad.

Pezeshkian emphasized that the recent military action was necessary to safeguard Iranian interests and citizens against continuous hostilities.

Directly addressing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he made it clear that while Iran is not seeking conflict, it will not shy away from defending itself against threats.

“Netanyahu should understand that Iran does not desire war, but we will respond forcefully to any threat,” Pezeshkian wrote, adding that Israel should take the warning into account.

He further highlighted that the recent strikes were only a fraction of Iran's full military capacity, cautioning, “This is merely a glimpse of our strength.”