The Iranian president made the remarks on Sunday night while speaking with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron over the phone, as the US-Israeli war with Iran continues for more than two weeks.
A day earlier, the US launched attacks on Iran’s southern islands of Kharg and Abu Musa. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the attacks were conducted from the UAE.
In his phone conversation with Macron, President Pezeshkian criticized regional countries for providing the US with the facilities to carry out attacks against Iran.
Allowing US forces to use regional soil and facilities for brutal attacks against Iran “violates international law and the principle of good neighborliness,” he emphasized.
President Pezeshkian also said that the main source of insecurity and instability in the region is the aggressive behavior of Israel and the US, citing as examples the ongoing war with Iran and the previous 12-day conflict with the country last June, as well as attacks in Lebanon and Gaza.
He emphasized that Iran has never sought war, but does not hesitate to defend its territory.
“The Iranian nation, government, and armed forces have never sought tension or conflict, but do not hesitate to firmly and legitimately defend the country’s territorial integrity and national security through public support and relying on national capabilities,” he said.
He meanwhile criticized certain European countries for their support of crimes committed by the US and Israel in the region, urging them to adhere to international law and the rule of law in the world.
President Macron, on his part, stressed the need for an end to the ongoing war, and expressed concern over further escalation, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, and the conflict between Lebanon’s Hezbollah resistance movement and Israel.
The two presidents also discussed other issues including the situation of French and Iranian prisoners held in both countries.
IRNA