Tehran (IP) - The Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has emphasized that the country's military action was legitimate self-defense and was a proportional and measured response to the earlier 3 January US attack.

Iran Press/Iran news: Speaking on the sideline of Wednesday's cabinet session, Mohammad Javad Zarif congratulated the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces who responded to the US terrorist attack on the assassination of Lieutenant-General Qasem Soleimani and his companions last Friday in Iraq.

In further remarks, Zarif warned the US not to escalate the conflict, saying: "We have said clearly if the United States takes further action we will respond proportionately and decisively. It is up to the United States to come to its senses and deal with the Iranian people with respect, and not through sanctions and military action."

Iran's Foreign Minister said the Islamic Republic's military action has taken place, but as Iran's Leader said it was a slap and our revenge is the US withdrawal from the region.

"America is making the end of itself in our region and with this public hatred against the US, America will have no future in this region and this is the real result of the blood of martyr Soleimani who will cut America off from this region," he said.

He further said that "It is up to the US to now come to its senses and stop its adventurism in this region. We did not start this process of escalation the US waged and economically war against Iran."

He referred to the massive participation of the Iranian nation in the funeral procession of Lieutenant-General Qasem Soleimani in different cities of Iran, saying that the presence of Iranian people was unprecedented in history.

"The sea of humanity has to bring the US to its senses that if it wants to deal with these people, it has to deal with these people based on respect, not based on threat and sanctions," Zarif underlined.

He also said that Europe can play a useful role by informing the US of a serious error in their analysis that they should stop listening to clowns.

"They should base their policy based on realities and not some illusions of some clowns to have ambitions elsewhere." 101/205

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