The great European powers, a threatening message for Tehran: “We will defend our interests and those of our allies”

Germany, France and Great Britain declared themselves ready for “necessary and proportionate defensive actions” in the face of Iranian retaliation with the aim of “destroying at the source” Tehran's military capabilities, writes AFP.

“We will take steps to defend our interests and those of our allies in the region,” possibly by preventing Iran from launching its missiles and drones, the E3 group, which brings together the biggest European powers, warned in a joint statement.

European leaders say they are “appalled” by Iran's “blind and disproportionate” attacks on Middle Eastern countries not involved in the military operation launched by the US and Israel.

“The attacks targeted close allies and threaten our military personnel and civilians throughout the region,” the statement said.

Berlin, London and Paris will discuss these defensive measures with the United States and its allies in the region.

On Sunday, Washington announced the first casualties suffered by the US military in the operation that led to the death of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei: three dead and five seriously wounded.

Iran does not set “any limits” on its right to defend itself, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Sunday in an intervention for the US ABC channel. “What the United States is doing is an act of aggression. What we are doing is defending ourselves. It is very different,” the diplomat added.