Iranian president warns US of retaliation after strikes on nuclear sites

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attends a press conference in Tehran, Iran, on Sept. 16, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Sunday that the United States must "receive the response to its aggression," following U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

Pezeshkian made the remarks during a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron, according to a statement from his office. In response to Macron's call for restraint, Pezeshkian said the United States must face consequences for its attacks on Iran.

He described the U.S. strikes as a "clear symbol of its insincerity and the baselessness of its claims about favoring dialogue and seeking peace."

Despite this, Pezeshkian stressed Iran's continued commitment to diplomacy with Europe, saying, "We have always announced our readiness for dialogue and interaction with Europe and have never abandoned the path of diplomacy, as we maintain that nobody would suffer any harm from dialogue."

Macron reiterated France's willingness to pursue negotiations with Iran and said Paris would continue efforts to halt the conflict and restore stability, according to the statement.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday announced on Truth Social that American forces had completed strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites, namely Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.

The U.S. strikes followed Israeli attacks launched since June 13 on various targets in Iran, including nuclear and military sites, killing several senior commanders, nuclear scientists, and civilians.

Iran has retaliated with missile and drone strikes on Israel. As of Saturday, more than 400 people have been killed and over 3,500 wounded in Iran, according to the Iranian Health Ministry. In Israel, authorities reported 24 fatalities.