Iranian President Vows Retaliation After U.S. Strikes

(MENAFN) Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian declared on Sunday that the United States must "receive the response to its aggression" following recent U.S. airstrikes targeting Iranian nuclear facilities.

These comments came during a telephone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron, as revealed by a statement from Pezeshkian’s office. When Macron urged restraint, Pezeshkian insisted that the U.S. should be held accountable for its attacks on Iran.

He characterized the American strikes as a "clear symbol of its insincerity and the baselessness of its claims about favoring dialogue and seeking peace."

Nonetheless, Pezeshkian emphasized Iran’s unwavering dedication to diplomatic engagement with Europe, stating, "We have always announced our readiness for dialogue and interaction with Europe and have never abandoned the path of diplomacy, as we maintain that nobody would suffer any harm from dialogue."

Meanwhile, Macron reaffirmed France’s readiness to negotiate with Iran, promising that Paris will persist in efforts to end hostilities and restore regional stability, according to the official statement.

On Saturday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced via Truth Social that American forces had successfully conducted strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites: Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.

These U.S. attacks followed a series of Israeli operations beginning June 13, targeting multiple locations across Iran, including nuclear and military facilities, resulting in the deaths of several senior commanders, nuclear scientists, and civilians.

In retaliation, Iran launched missile and drone assaults on Israel. The Iranian Health Ministry reported that as of Saturday, the conflict has claimed over 400 lives and injured more than 3,500 individuals in Iran. Israeli officials have confirmed 24 deaths.

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