Iran has submitted a formal protest to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) over Israeli threats to target its nuclear facilities in response to a missile attack launched by Tehran earlier this month.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaee said Monday that the protest note has been delivered to the UN nuclear watchdog, adding that the threats would be 鈥渇ollowed up through various channels.鈥�
Baghaee's comments came amid reports suggesting that Israel is preparing for a 鈥渕ajor attack鈥� on Iran in retaliation for the Oct. 1 missile strikes, which Iran said were in response to the recent assassinations of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders, and a Revolutionary Guard commander.
Speculation is also rife that Iranian nuclear sites could become potential targets of Israeli strikes.
Baghaee emphasized that Iran's stance is 鈥渧ery clear,鈥� reiterating that 鈥渁ny provocation by the Zionist regime will be met with a decisive response.鈥�
He said Tehran has communicated to the United Nations and other international bodies that its attack on Israel was conducted 鈥渨ithin the framework of the right to self-defense.鈥�
He also addressed concerns about the deployment of US anti-missile defense systems in the region, warning that such a move would 鈥減ose a threat鈥� to Israel.
The Iranian spokesman expressed satisfaction that regional countries have 鈥渞eached an understanding that maintaining peace and security in the region is a shared responsibility,鈥� adding that these nations 鈥渨ill never allow their soil to be used for aggression against any other country in the region.鈥�
By Syed Zafar Mehdi in Tehran, Iran
Anadolu Agency