Tehran, March 17 -- Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, has stated that Tehran did not anticipate the territories of its southern neighbours being utilised as a launchpad for aggression against the Islamic Republic, according to a report by the state broadcaster Press TV.

In an interview with Al-Araby Al-Jadeed media outlet, Qalibaf addressed questions regarding reactions countries in Iran's neighbourhood on Tehran's retaliatory strikes. "Let me set aside pleasantries, it was we who did not expect the soil of our southern neighbours to be used for aggression against Iran, compelling us to defend ourselves," he remarked.

The Speaker criticised the presence of foreign military installations in the region, suggesting...