Iran confirms armed forces ready to respond after strikes

Iran’s Foreign Affairs Ministry said Saturday that the country’s armed forces are “fully prepared” to respond following Israeli and United States attacks, warning that those responsible would “regret their actions.”

The statement was released hours after strikes targeted locations across Iran amid escalating military confrontation in the region.

The announcement signals Tehran’s official political and military response posture following coordinated strikes that Iranian authorities say affected both defensive infrastructure and non-military locations. The statement underscores Iran’s position that it retains the right to retaliate under international law as tensions continue to rise.

According to the Iranian Foreign Affairs Ministry, Israeli attacks earlier in the day targeted the country’s “territorial integrity and national sovereignty, including defensive infrastructure and non-military locations in various cities across the country.” Iranian officials framed the strikes as violations of international legal norms governing the use of force.

“The renewed military aggression by the United States and the Zionist regime against Iran constitutes a violation of international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter,” the ministry said in an official statement. It added: “The Islamic Republic of Iran considers this aggression a clear breach of international peace and security and emphasises that it reserves its legitimate right to respond decisively.”

The ministry further stated that Iran had exercised restraint prior to the current escalation. “The Iranian nation has always demonstrated patience and restraint to prevent escalation and preserve regional stability,” the statement read.

Iranian officials also issued a direct warning regarding potential retaliation. The statement said the armed forces stand “fully prepared to defend the country and will make aggressors regret their actions.”