News - Middle East: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says the country warned the United States against any interference during the Islamic Republic’s retaliatory operation against Israel, stressing that any potential response by the Israeli regime and its supporters will be met with a more severe one.

Araghchi made the remarks in a TV interview on Wednesday hours after Iran launched a barrage of long-range ballistic missiles at the occupied Palestinian territories with at least 90 percent of them hitting the designated targets.

Iran issued the warning after a spokesman for the US State Department said on Tuesday afternoon that the Biden administration’s support for Israel’s security remains “ironclad”.

“We will continue to stand with the people of Israel at this critical moment,” Matthew Miller told reporters.

Iran's ‘Operation True Promise-II’ came in response to the assassination of top resistance leaders, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and Ismail Haniyeh, as well as Abbas Nilforoushan, a senior IRGC commander, by the Zionist regime.

“After the [retaliatory] response, a warning was relayed to Switzerland to convey to the Americans indicating that it was our right in terms of defense and we do not intend to continue it. We also warned the US to stand back and not interfere,” Araghchi said.

He went on to say that the missile attack was “a stabilizing measure” as it could “restore geopolitical deterrence” to the region amid escalating tensions.

The Iranian foreign minister noted that the country’s Armed Forces are ready for any potential actions by the Israeli regime, warning that “any new action by the regime and its supporters … will be met with a tougher response from Iran.”

“I see the future days bright. There is a possibility of conflict, but our forces stand fully prepared. Last night, we only targeted military and security targets, and unlike the Israelis, but did not hit civilian targets. We expect to gradually see some kind of stability in the region in the coming days,” he said.

Iran's restraint

Araghchi also held phone conversations with his counterparts from Germany, France, and the United Kingdom regarding the Islamic Republic's retaliatory attack on Israel.

During the phone calls, Araghchi pointed to Iran's restraint for more than two months following the terrorist attack by the Israeli regime which killed Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, and the continuation of the regime's aggression in Gaza and its expansion into Lebanon.

He went on to say that Iran “has only used its right to legitimate defense based on Article 51 of the United Nations Charter and has only targeted the military and security bases of the Zionist regime."

Araghchi further emphasized that the operation has ended but if the Israeli regime seeks to retaliate, Tehran would come up with a more severe response.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran does not seek to escalate tension and war, although it is not afraid of war. We warn any third party not to interfere in this conflict," he added.

The Iranian foreign minister reiterated his call on countries to help prevent the Israeli regime’s attacks and further escalation of tensions in the region, particularly in Lebanon and Gaza.

Source: Press TV