TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign 
Minister Hussein Amir-Abdollahian separately said Monday the Zionist regime will receive an immediate and extensive response if it continues its adventurous acts against the Islamic Republic.
In a phone conversation with his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock, Amir-Abdollahian said Iran seeks to give a warning to Israel about the repercussions of crossing the red lines.
Pointing to Iran’s retaliatory strikes against the occupied territories, he added that Tehran has carried out a “minimum and precise” operation against the regime’s military sites from which the Iranian embassy in the Syrian capital of Damascus was attacked.
The top Iranian diplomat criticized Germany for its pro-Israel stance and expressed hope that instead of condemning Iran’s legitimate self-defense move, Berlin would focus on ways to help end the ongoing war in Gaza and establish endurable peace and security in the area spanning the Mediterranean to the Red Sea.
The German foreign minister, for her part, said Tehran and Berlin should hold more consultations on various issues and added that joint efforts must be focused on preventing further escalation of tensions.
Baerbock added that Germany is making efforts to put an end to Israel’s war in Gaza and pave the way for achieving sustainable peace.
In his talks with EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, the Iranian minister said the United Nations’ refusal to condemn the Zionist regime left the Islamic Republic with no choice other than to punish Tel Aviv.
“In the face of the United Nations and the Security Council’s diplomatic inaction to issue even one statement in condemnation of the action, the Islamic Republic had no choice other than to punish the Zionist regime within the framework of legitimate defense,” Amir-Abdollahian said.
Amir-Abdollahian described the Iranian retaliation as successful, noting that following the reprisal, the Islamic Republic relayed the message that it viewed the matter as concluded.
“However, in case of reciprocal action by the Zionist regime, Iran’s response would be immediate, extensive, and maximal,” he cautioned.
Elsewhere in his remarks, the foreign minister hoped that the EU would come up with an effective initiative towards ending the Israeli regime’s October 7-present genocidal war on the Gaza Strip.
Should the bloc develop such an initiative, the Islamic Republic would be prepared to contribute to its success, he added.
For his part, the European official said Iran’s retaliation against the Israeli attack was not unforeseeable.
He expressed delight in the fact that the Islamic Republic viewed the matter as concluded, and said the EU viewed the Israeli attack on the Iranian diplomatic premises in the Syrian capital as condemnable.

Borrell also said Brussels was investing efforts towards resolving the crisis in Gaza and putting an end to the suffering of the territory’s people, asking Tehran to contribute to realization of such an outcome.
In a phone call with Slovenia’s Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon on Monday, Amir-Abdollahian said Iran expected the United Nations Security Council to denounce Israel’s missile attacks on Iran’s diplomatic sites in Damascus.
However, he added, the United States and two European countries prevented the approval of at least a statement in condemnation of Israel’s blatant act of aggression.
Therefore, Iran carried out a planned operation within the framework of its legitimate right of self-defense, he said. 
The Slovenian foreign minister said Iran has always made efforts to prevent the escalation of tensions in the region.
Fajon said her country would continue attempts to help establish sustainable peace in Gaza and send humanitarian aid to the war-ravaged Strip.
Amir-Abdollahian and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov warned that new provocative acts can lead to an escalation of tensions in the region, following Iran’s retaliatory attack on the Israeli-occupied territories. 
The two diplomats made the remarks in a phone conversation as they discussed the latest developments in the region.
“It was noted that a further escalation of tensions in the region and new, dangerous provocative actions could lead to a boost in tensions” in the region, the Russian foreign ministry said.
The ministry said the Iranian foreign minister informed his Russian counterpart about the measures, undertaken by Tehran in response to the April 1 Israeli airstrike at the consular department of the Iranian Embassy in Damascus, which led to the death of official Iranian representatives.
The two sides reaffirmed their position in favor of an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
Amir-Abdollahian denounced Israel as the root cause of insecurity gripping West Asia in his talks with Qatrai Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Muhammad bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani.
Sheikh Muhammad underlined the need for security in West Asia, saying the actions of the Zionist regime have caused regional instability.
The two sides also discussed the developments in the Gaza Strip and called for an end to Israeli war crimes and the humanitarian suffering in Gaza and the West Bank.
The Iranian foreign minister also had a phone call with his Egyptian counterpart, Sameh Shoukry in which he emphasized Tehran’s principled position against the war in the region.
“Everyone should work to stop the genocide and war crimes in Gaza,” he said.
He further expounded Iran’s views about its retaliatory operation against Israel based on Article 51 of the UN Charter.
Shoukry, for his part, expressed concerns about growing tensions in the region as the Israeli regime continues its war on Gaza and kills Palestinian people.
Egypt, he added, will keep up its active efforts to stop the Gaza war.
In another telephone conversation, Amir-Abdollahian talked with his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud.
The Iranian foreign ministry elaborated on Iran’s diplomatic actions over the past two weeks regarding Israel’s acts of aggression and the UN Security Council’s inaction in this regard.
Iran’s retaliatory operation against Israel was conducted within the framework of legitimate defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter, he asserted.
Prince Faisal, for his part, expressed gratitude for the explanations provided by Amir-Abdollahian and underscored the imperative need for regional stability and security, as well as enhanced bilateral cooperation.