TEHRAN, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday that the country will continue to exercise its legitimate right to self-defense until U.S. and Israeli "aggression" against it ceases.

He made the remarks in a letter to United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the Security Council following attacks by Israel and the United States, according to the official news agency IRNA.

"Iran will continue to decisively and immediately exercise its legitimate right to self-defense until U.S. and Israeli aggression against the country completely and unconditionally stops," Araghchi said.

He added that the U.S. and Israeli airstrikes are "in flagrant violation of the UN Charter and clear instances of armed aggression against Iran."

Araghchi emphasized that Iran's armed forces will use all necessary defense capacities and facilities to counter the "criminal aggression" and maintain deterrence against hostile actions. "Accordingly, all bases, facilities, and assets of hostile forces in the region will be considered legitimate military targets within the framework of Iran's exercise of its right to self-defense," he said.

On Saturday morning, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and several other Iranian cities, including Tabriz, Qom, Isfahan, Kermanshah, and Karaj. Iran responded with missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and U.S. bases across the region. ■