Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian condemned the overnight Israeli strikes and promised a "legitimate and powerful response" that will make the enemy regret its "foolish action," IRNA reported on June 13.

The Iranian president's comments come as several top military generals and their families were killed in Israeli airstrikes on Tehran and other cities in the early hours of the morning. Israeli drones also hit the country's nuclear facility in Natanz, but Iran said there has not been any nuclear leakage. 

Pezeshkian stressed the need for Iranians to avoid attention to rumours in the enemy's psychological warfare and to trust officials, stating that "the Iranian nation and the country's officials will not remain silent against this crime."

The president said Iran now needs "being together, trust, empathy, unity and harmony more than any other time" and with God's help will deliver "a hard, wise and strong response to the crime of the occupying regime."

"He added that Israel, responsible for the attack, is now one of the most hated entities in the eyes of global and regional public opinion."

In his statement, Pezeshkian described the midnight attack as a "savage aggression by the criminal Zionist regime" targeting Tehran and other cities, resulting in the martyrdom of children, women, innocent citizens, military commanders and nuclear scientists.

He called the action "bestial" and contrary to all international commitments, demonstrating the "criminal nature of the illegitimate Zionist regime that has built its existence on occupation, aggression and child-killing."

The president stated that last night's aggression proved to the world the validity of Iran's longstanding claim that "aggression and crime are inherent to the Zionist regime."

He also said that while Iran has always pursued peace and has shown full readiness for dialogue and transparency with the international community, it will respond “decisively in self-defence” when faced with aggression.

Pezeshkian assured citizens that the government would continue serving the nation with full capacity and that no disruption would occur in the general flow of life.

The president quoted the Qur’an and referenced Iran's Leader, stating that under the guidance and leadership of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Iran would emerge from this difficult situation "with dignity and honour."

Iran's Crisis Management Headquarters requested citizens maintain calm, avoid hasty actions causing public anxiety, follow only official information from national media and authorised channels, and avoid unnecessary travel whilst cooperating with emergency personnel when needed.