“We do not seek war, but we will defend our country and the rights of our people. We will give a proportionate response to the aggression by the Zionist regime”, the president said at a cabinet meeting on Sunday, a day after the Israeli regime launched attacks on Iranian military sites.
Four Iranian armed forces were martyred while defending the country’s airspace. Pezeshkian extended his condolences to their families and the Army, according to his official website.
He also said that the Zionist regime’s crimes have been proven to the world, adding that all people across the globe are now aware that the regime’s backers, on top of them the US, claim to be defending freedom and human rights, but remain silent on the killing of tens of thousands of women and children by the regime.
“If the Zionist regime continues its aggression and crimes, tensions will escalate”, the president warned.
Pezeshkian said that the US is provoking the Israeli regime into committing these crimes, arguing that they had promised to end the war in return for Iran’s restraint, but they reneged on their promise.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Pezeshkian expressed condolences over the martyrdom of ten Iranian law enforcement forces in a terrorist attack in the city of Taftan southeast of Iran.
Pezeshkian called on officials to identify and punish the perpetrators.