"We are defending ourselves, and we have every right, every legitimate right, to defend ourselves," said Araghchi. "What we are doing is the act of self-defense. There are huge differences between these two," he said.
WASHINGTON, March 1 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi told ABC News on Sunday that no country's leader has the right to tell Iran not to respond to the ongoing U.S.-Israeli massive airstrikes on Iran, saying his country has every right to defend itself and will continue fighting.
U.S. President Donald Trump said in a post early Sunday morning that Iran should not retaliate.
"Iran just stated that they are going to hit very hard today, harder than they have ever hit before. THEY BETTER NOT DO THAT, HOWEVER, BECAUSE IF THEY DO, WE WILL HIT THEM WITH A FORCE THAT HAS NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE!" Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social.
In response, Araghchi told ABC News: "I don't think any leader of a country has the right to say so. No."
"We are defending ourselves, and we have every right, every legitimate right, to defend ourselves," said Araghchi. "What we are doing is the act of self-defense. There are huge differences between these two," he said.
"We are defending ourselves; whatever it takes; and we see no limit for ourselves to defend our people, to protect our people," he added.
When asked if a negotiated settlement with the United States was still possible, Araghchi suggested that he was doubtful, saying that the U.S.-Iran nuclear talks in recent years had become "a very bitter experience" for Iran.
Araghchi said Iran was attacked both on Saturday and last June amid diplomatic talks with the United States that Iran believed were making progress, adding that Israel and some of Trump's advisers "dragged" Trump into a war even though a peace deal appeared possible after talks in Geneva on Thursday.
Asked how much damage the attacks have done on the Iranian military infrastructure, Araghchi said: "Well, we have lost some commanders, that is a fact, and the names are already announced. But another fact is that nothing has changed in our military capability."
The Iranian official said Iran was able to start retaliating even faster than it could during its 12-day conflict with Israel and the United States in June 2025.
"So our military is in place. They are capable enough to defend our country," Araghchi said. "Even more, they are more prepared and capable than (the) previous war .... they are in a better position. And you have seen how they acted so far."
The massive U.S.-Israeli airstrikes, which has killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, entered the second day on Sunday.
Trump said 48 senior Iranian officials were killed in the operation and the U.S. forces have sunk nine Iranian warships and largely destroyed Iran's navy headquarters.
The U.S. Central Command said on social media on Sunday that three U.S. service members have been killed and five others seriously wounded during the U.S. military operation against Iran. ■
