OBJECTIVES OF RECENT ATTACKS AGAINST IRAN FAIL TO ACHIEVE INTENDED GOALS: IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER

TEHRAN, Iran, March 6 (Bernama-IranNarrative) -- Iranian Foreign Minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi said the objectives of recent attacks against Iran had failed to achieve their intended goals, IranNarrative reported quoting an interview with NBC News.

He questioned the outcome of the operation, stating that those behind the attacks may have believed they could achieve a rapid victory and force a change in the state structure, but that Iran’s government institutions continue to function.

 Araghchi added that military commanders who were lost have already been replaced, and that the country’s leadership will also be replaced through the constitutional mechanisms if necessary, emphasising that the state structure remains intact and operational.

 He also noted that while Iran was targeted, Iranian forces have carried out retaliatory strikes against multiple targets in Israel and against American-linked positions.

He also condemned attack on naval vessel 2,000 miles away from Iran's shores, stating that 

 the naval vessel that sank in the Indian Ocean was unarmed and carrying officers undergoing training.

He said that targeting such a vessel constitutes a war crime, emphasising that the ship was not engaged in combat operations at the time of the attack.

Sri Lanka on Thursday gave shelter to an Iranian navy ship and its 208 crew members, a day after an American submarine sank an Iranian frigate in the Indian Ocean.

The auxiliary vessel IRIS Bushehr sought permission to berth in Sri Lanka after the United States (US) attacked the IRIS Dena frigate, which was on its way home after participating in a naval exercise organised by India from February 15 to 25 in Visakhapatnam.

-- BERNAMA-IRANNARRATIVE