TEHRAN: Iran summoned the German and Austrian ambassadors on Thursday after their governments rebuked the Islamic republic over its missile attack on Zionist entity, state media reported.

The move, according to the official IRNA news agency, was in response to the “unacceptable measures” by Germany and Austria in summoning the Iranian envoys over Iran’s attack on Tuesday. Iran’s foreign ministry said in a statement that the attack was a “legitimate, responsible and effective response in punishing the aggressor Zionist regime (Zionist entity)”.

The Islamic republic on Tuesday evening launched around 200 missiles at Zionist entity in its second-ever direct attack on its sworn enemy, following a missile and drone attack in April.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said the attack was in retaliation for the killing last month of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah alongside Tehran’s Quds Force commander Abbas Nilforoushan, as well as Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, who died in a July bombing in Tehran. The attack triggered international criticism of the Islamic republic.

Also on Thursday, foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei, condemned what he called “the continued biased and irresponsible approach” of the G7 group after it criticized the attack on Zionist entity. He also condemned the group’s call for further sanctions against Tehran, saying the attack was a “necessary response” to Zionist entity’s “aggressive actions”. — AFP