Erdoğan: Iran has 'legitimate' right to defend itself against Israel's 'thuggery, state terrorism'

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Wednesday that Iran has the "legitimate" right to defend itself amid Israel’s continued airstrikes.

“It is a very natural, legitimate and legal right for Iran to defend itself against Israel’s thuggery and state terrorism,” Erdoğan remarked.

This statement followed his earlier criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whom he called “the biggest threat to the security of the region.”

The Turkish leader noted that “these attacks were organised while the Iranian nuclear negotiations were taking place,” adding, “Israel, which possesses nuclear weapons and does not recognise any international rules … did not wait for the negotiations to end, but carried out a terrorist act without waiting for the result.”

He said that, “We are closely following Israel’s terrorist attacks on Iran. All our institutions are on high alert regarding the possible effects of these attacks on Turkey.”

“We are making preparations for every kind of scenario. Nobody should dare to test us,” he added.

He said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had long left Adolf Hitler behind in committing crimes of genocide in Gaza.

Earlier in the week, Erdoğan announced he had instructed Turkey’s defense sector to ramp up production of medium- and long-range missiles to “increase its level of deterrence” in response to the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran.