the U.S. strike on Iranian nuclear sites as an act of aggression, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Sunday, adding that Washington intervened only after Israel failed to counter Iran’s military response.
Pezeshkian said the attack confirmed the United States as the main driver of Israeli hostility toward the Islamic Republic.
“At first, they tried to conceal their role, but once they saw Israel’s failure, they had no choice but to step in,” he said.
Iran’s IRGC Aerospace Force will continue its operations and disrupt Israel’s security, IRGC chief Mohammad Pakpour said Sunday in a video from the command room.
“The Aerospace Force’s operations will not stop, and they have taken away Israel’s comfort,” he said.
France will hold an emergency defense cabinet meeting Sunday to address regional security following US airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear sites, the French presidency announced.
President Emmanuel Macron has spoken with several leaders, including Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince, and will engage in further discussions with European and regional counterparts throughout the day.
The presidency said that France is expediting the evacuation of its citizens who wish to leave Iran and Israel.
France distanced itself from the US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites on Sunday, warning against further escalation and reaffirming its opposition to a nuclear-armed Iran.
Paris was not involved in the attacks or their planning, Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said.
“We noted with concern the US strikes carried out against three Iranian nuclear program sites,” Barrot said.
“France has repeatedly expressed its very firm opposition to Iran acquiring nuclear weapons,” he added and called on all sides to avoid steps that “could lead to an extension of the conflict.”
