Iran`s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters says Iranian Armed Forces respect the national interests and sovereignty of neighboring countries.

A senior spokesperson for Iran`s armed forces says any location identified as a source of aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran will be a legitimate target.

Major General Abolfazl Shekarchi said on Saturday that the armed forces are determined to respond to enemy threats a week after the United States and the Israeli regime launched a surprise military aggression against the country.

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei was assassinated in the first wave of terrorist strikes on Tehran on February 28. Hundreds of people, including senior military officials, have since been killed in attacks across the country.

Iran began to swiftly retaliate against the criminal aggression by launching barrages of missile and drone attacks on the Israeli-occupied territories as well as on the US bases in regional countries.

Shekarchi emphasized that the armed forces have kept this promise and have targeted all bases used by the US to launch strikes against Iranian territory.

Referring to Iran`s strategy toward its neighbors, he said, "Our effort has always been to ensure that neighboring countries are not harmed, and we remain committed to this principle."

Major General Abolfazl Shekarchi (File photo)

"The security of all Muslim nations is the security of the Islamic Republic, and we respect the national sovereignty of each country," he added.

He reiterated that countries that "do not allow their airspace, land, or facilities to be used by the enemy will not be targeted at all and their security will be preserved."

However, he added that any country that lets its airspace or territory be used by the enemy against Iran will be considered a target.

Earlier on Saturday, Iran`s President Masoud Pezeshkian said a decision made by the Leader`s interim council was conveyed to the armed forces, prohibiting attacks on neighboring countries "unless those countries launch an attack on us."

Shekarchi underlined that Iran has not and will not back down against the United States and Israel.
"These matters should lead regional nations to unite hand?in?hand to expel the Americans-who are the main source of insecurity in Islamic lands-from the region," he further said.