TEHRAN - In a statement posted on X, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi noted that his country's Tuesday attack against Israeli positions in the occupied territories, which followed a series of Israeli assassinations of Resistance leaders - one on Iranian soil, was a legitimate exercise of self-defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter.

Araqchi highlighted that the attack targeted "solely military and security sites" responsible for "genocide" in Gaza and Lebanon. He emphasized that Iran had shown "tremendous restraint" for nearly two months, hoping to facilitate a ceasefire in Gaza.

"Our action is concluded unless Israeli regime decides to invite further retaliation. In that scenario, our response will be stronger and more powerful," the top Iranian diplomat said, adding, "Israel's enablers now have a heightened responsibility to rein in the warmongers in Tel Aviv instead of getting involved in their folly."