The United States and the Zionist regime attacked a series of defense targets and infrastructures as well as civilian sites in different cities of the country today, the statement said.

The latest aggression by the US and the Israeli regime was committed while Iran and the US were in the midst of a diplomatic process, it noted.

Although Iran was aware of the intentions of Washington and Tel Aviv to launch a military aggression, it decided to enter negotiations once again in order to prove the rightfulness of the Iranian nation and the illegitimacy of any pretext for aggression, the Foreign Ministry stated.

The Iranian people are proud to have done everything necessary to prevent war, it said, adding that now it is time to defend the homeland and confront any military attack by the enemy.

The statement went on to say that just as Iran was prepared for negotiations, it is now more prepared than ever to defend the country and the Islamic Republic’s Armed Forces will respond to aggressors powerfully.