TEHRAN, April 15 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has exchanged views with his Russian and German counterparts on Iran's massive retaliatory military operation against Israel.
In two separate phone calls with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, Amir-Abdollahian elaborated on Iran's drone and missile strikes early Sunday on targets in Israel, according to statements released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry on Monday.
In his talks with Lavrov late Sunday, Amir-Abdollahian stressed that the Iranian military action was limited and aimed at creating deterrence, punishing Israel and giving it a warning.
He added that if Israel were to take a new action against Iran, it would definitely receive a very severe response.
Amir-Abdollahian praised Russia for its position on Iran's "legitimate" action, highlighting the significance of Moscow's role in halting Israeli crimes in Gaza as well as its continued aggression against Palestinians, and preventing the escalation of tensions in the region.
The Russian foreign minister, for his part, expressed regret that some countries refrained from condemning Israel's attack on Iran's consulate at the United Nations Security Council meeting convened earlier this month.
He added that Russia had no doubts that Iran would respond to the Israeli attack, noting that Moscow maintained that Iran's military action was a responsible and restrained response.
Lavrov expressed hope for a de-escalation of tensions in the region and assured that Russia would strongly defend and support Iran's action, which was based on the legitimate right to self-defense, at the UN Security Council.
During the phone conversation with his German counterpart on Monday, Amir-Abdollahian said Iran had carried out a "minimal and accurate" operation against Israeli military centers from which the attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus had been launched.
He slammed Germany for its supportive position towards Israel and warned that if Israel persisted in its adventurism, Iran's response would be "reciprocal, immediate, and extensive."
Amir-Abdollahian said Iran's attack aimed to give a warning to Israel and make it realize the consequences of crossing Tehran's red lines.
For her part, the German foreign minister highlighted the necessity to conduct extensive consultations during this "dangerous period," noting that recent developments had significantly heightened turbulence in the region.
She said joint efforts should be focused on preventing the further expansion of these tensions.
Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps said in two separate statements early Sunday that it had launched "tens of missiles and drones" and "successfully hit and destroyed" important military targets belonging to the Israeli army. ■
