Iran’s Foreign Minister claims Tehran informed US about ‘limited’ attack on Israel

Iran’s Foreign Minister Amirabdollahian said on Sunday that Tehran had informed America that its attacks against Israel would be ‘limited’ and for ‘self-defence.’

His remarks came hours after countries like United States, UK, France, India and other international powers condemned Iran’s missile attack on Israel and called for de-escalation.

Amirabdollahian further added that exercising the right of legitimate defence shows Iran’s responsible approach to regional and international peace and security. He said that at this point, the Islamic Republic of Iran has no intention of continuing defensive operations, but if necessary, it will not hesitate to protect its legitimate interests against any new aggression.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Amirabdollahian said on Sunday that Tehran had informed the United States that Iran’s attacks on Israel were going to be ‘limited’ and would be in ‘self-defence.’

“About 72 hours prior to our operations, we informed our friends and neighbours in the region that Iran’s response against Israel was certain, legitimate, and irrevocable,” Amirabdollahian said at a press conference.

Iran’s permanent mission to the United Nations said in a statement that its military action was based on Article 51 of the United Nations Charter concerning legitimate defence in response to the Zionist regime’s aggression against their diplomatic premises in Damascus on April 1.

Iran’s foreign ministry summoned on Sunday the ambassadors of the United Kingdom, France, and Germany to question what it referred to as their “irresponsible stance” regarding Tehran’s retaliatory strikes on Israel, the semi-official Iranian Labour News Agency reported.

Reacting to the Iranian aggression, Israeli Ambassador to India Naor Gilon said that their country could not sit idle when people attack them.

United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said that British jets shot down drones in Iran’s attack on Israel.

German airline group Lufthansa said on Sunday it was suspending flights to Amman, Beirut, Erbil and Tel Aviv at least until Monday following the latest turmoil in the Middle East.

The group would also ensure its flights avoided the airspace above Israel, Jordan and Iraq for the foreseeable future, it said in a statement to Reuters.

The company had already said on Friday it was suspending flights to and from Tehran until April 18 and would not use Iranian airspace during that time.

Meanwhile, UAE-based Etihad Airways cancelled services to Tel Aviv and Amman on Sunday. Emirates Airlines also cancelled some of its flights and rerouted others due to temporary airspace closures in the region from the late evening of Saturday to Sunday morning.