Qatar and UAE condemn Israeli strikes on Iran

The Iranian government on Friday said it has initiated “defensive, political, and legal” measures following overnight Israeli airstrikes that targeted sites in Tehran and killed several individuals, including senior military and nuclear figures.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran has begun the necessary defensive, political, and legal measures to make the illegitimate Israel regret its actions,” the government said in a statement.

It described the strikes as “a violation of national sovereignty” and accused Israel of acting “outside all international norms.”

Iran said the attacks, which came amid diplomatic engagement over Tehran’s nuclear program, revealed “the regime’s fear of Iran’s ability to defend and convince the world.”

While reiterating that Iran has not initiated war in over two centuries, the statement asserted: “We consider retaliation and defense to be our legitimate right.”

It added that Israel’s actions had erased any distinction between the Iranian government and its people in Tel Aviv’s targeting, and that the response would be united.

Iran called on the United Nations Security Council to respond, but noted it would not “wait on international bodies.”

“Iran can either sign an agreement or face ongoing attacks that will endanger the stability of its regime,” the official said on condition of anonymity.

“Iran deceived the United States during the negotiations and tried to buy time while continuing uranium enrichment,” the official added. “Had Iran entered the negotiations with sincere intentions, Israel would not have attacked.”

The comments appear to reflect a hardening of Israel’s stance toward Tehran after it had mostly focused its military blows on Iran's armed allies in the region but stopped short of signaling all-out war on the Islamic Republic.

“The strategy toward Iran will resemble the strategy used in Lebanon — the threat must not be allowed to materialize,” the source stated.

According to the official, the recent strikes have left Iran’s military apparatus in disarray. “The Iranians are currently in shock, their military leadership is virtually non-existent,” he claimed. “And more surprises are yet to come.”

Despite the intensity of the conflict, the source insisted that Israel’s actions are aimed at the Iranian establishment and not its people.

“Israel is not targeting the Iranian people but the Iranian regime,” he said. “The Iranian nation, with its proud history, deserves leadership that provides electricity and water — not one that spends the budget on global terrorism.”

Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi condemned Israel’s overnight airstrikes as a blatant violation of international law and pointed finger at the United States as Israel's closest ally.

“The United States, as the main supporter of this regime, will be held accountable for the dangerous consequences of this reckless adventure,” Araghchi said Friday morning.

He added that Israel could not have launched the attack without US coordination or approval and that Iran has a legal right to retaliate under Article 51 of the UN Charter.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) pledged a harsh retaliation against Israel following the killing of its top commander, Hossein Salami, in overnight airstrikes.

"(IRGC) is fully prepared to deliver a firm and severe response to the Zionist enemy’s aggression," the statement read, suggesting that the response was already planned.

"Necessary measures to counter such criminal acts and confront incidents of this nature have long been in place."

"In the early hours of today, the Zionist regime extended its evil and bloodstained hand to commit a crime in our beloved country, revealing its wicked nature more than ever by targeting residential areas. The regime must await severe punishment," Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said in a statement.

"By God’s will, the powerful arm of the Islamic Republic’s armed forces will not let it go unpunished," he added.

"In the enemy’s attacks, several commanders and scientists were martyred. Their successors and colleagues will immediately carry on their duties, God willing."

"With this crime, the Zionist regime has prepared a bitter and painful fate for itself—and it will undoubtedly face it."