Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian vowed on Friday that Israel will face a “strong and legitimate” response after its large-scale air assault on Iranian military and nuclear sites, warning the attack would not go unanswered.

In an official statement published on the presidential website, Pezeshkian described the Israeli strikes—carried out by more than 200 fighter jets in an operation dubbed “Rising Lion”—as a “brutal act” that blatantly violated international law. He accused the “Zionist regime” of engaging in criminal behavior rooted in “occupation, aggression, and the killing of innocents.”

“The enemy will regret this act. Our response will be firm, wise, and rooted in justice,” Pezeshkian stated, calling on the Iranian people to remain united and resilient in the face of psychological warfare and to place their trust in national leadership.

The Israeli operation early Friday targeted nuclear facilities and resulted in the deaths of several high-ranking military officials and nuclear scientists, marking one of the most severe escalations in the long-standing conflict between the two nations.