Iran says 'no limits' to defend itself as US and EU urges Iran to not respond

Iran says 'no limits' to defend itself as US and EU urges Iran to not respond
by AFP Staff Writers
Tehran (AFP) Oct 26, 2024

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Saturday that Iran was determined to defend itself after Israeli warplanes struck military bases and missile sites in several Iranian provinces, killing two soldiers.

"I think we've shown that our determination to defend ourselves knows no limits," Araghchi said in an interview with the official website of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The minister's comments were the first by a senior Iranian official since the pre-dawn strikes.

Israel had vowed to retaliate after October 1, when Iran fired around 200 missiles in its second ever direct attack against its arch-foe.

In April, in its first direct assault against Israeli territory, Iran launched more than 300 drones and missiles.

Tehran said that barrage was retaliation for a strike on Iran's consular annexe in Damascus that killed commanders of its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

"We will defend our territory and our homeland," Araghchi said. "I think everyone has already seen that."

US urges Iran to 'cease attacks' on Israel to break cycle of fighting
Washington (AFP) Oct 26, 2024 - The United States urged Iran on Saturday to stop attacking Israel to break the cycle of violence after Israel launched strikes against the Islamic republic in retaliation for a missile barrage.

"We urge Iran to cease its attacks on Israel so that this cycle of fighting can end without further escalation," US National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett told reporters.

The Israeli military conducted air strikes against Iran on Saturday, hitting military bases and missile sites, and other systems in several regions.

"Their response was an exercise in self-defense and specifically avoided populated areas and focused solely on military targets, contrary to Iran's attack against Israel that targeted Israel's most populous city," he added.

Stressing that the United States did not participate in the operation, he said "it is our aim to accelerate diplomacy and de-escalate tensions in the Middle East region".

A senior administration official said President Joe Biden and his national security team have worked with the "Israelis over recent weeks to encourage Israel to conduct a response that was targeted and proportional with low risk of civilian harm".

"And that appears to have been precisely what transpired this evening," the official told reporters.

President Biden had encouraged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "to design a response that served to deter further attacks against Israel while reducing risks of further escalation, and that is our objective".

EU calls for 'utmost restraint' after Israel strikes Iran
Brussels, Belgium (AFP) Oct 26, 2024 - The European Union on Saturday called for all parties to exercise utmost restraint to avoid an "uncontrollable escalation" in the Middle East, after Israel carried out deadly air strikes in Iran.

Earlier Israel said its warplanes carried out raids targeting Iranian military facilities in retaliation for a missile barrage -- further stoking fears of a full-scale regional war.

"The dangerous cycle of attacks and retaliations risks causing a further expansion of the regional conflict," the EU said in a statement.

"While acknowledging Israel's right to self-defence, the EU calls on all parties to exercise utmost restraint to avoid an uncontrollable escalation, which is in no one's interest."

Iran warned it would defend itself after the strikes, which the Israeli military said hit Iranian missile factories and military facilities in several regions, killed two soldiers.

Israel in turn cautioned that Iran would "pay a heavy price" if it responded to the strikes, which it said came in retaliation for Iran's October 1 missile attack, which saw the country launch around 200 ballistic missiles at Israel.

The EU called for calm saying the strikes came amid "severe and growing regional tensions".

"The EU remains fully committed to lowering tensions and contributing to de-escalation and, to this end, remains in close contact with all relevant actors," the 27-nation bloc added.