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ISTANBUL, June  18, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan 
said Wednesday Iran had the "legitimate" right to defend itself in the face of 
Israel's ongoing bombing campaign, now in its sixth day. 
       
"It is a very natural, legitimate and legal right for Iran to defend itself 
against Israel's thuggery and state terrorism," the Turkish leader said, a day 
after referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as "the biggest 
threat to the security of the region".
       
The long-range blitz began early Friday, when Israel launched a massive 
bombing campaign that prompted Iran to hit back with missiles and drones, 
including hypersonic missiles.
       
"These attacks were organised while the Iranian nuclear negotiations were 
taking place," Erdogan said.
       
"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 added.
       
Iran says at least 224 people have been killed in the Israeli attacks, 
which have targeted nuclear and military facilities, while Iranian fire on 
Israel has claimed at least 24 lives and wounded hundreds more, Netanyahu's 
office said. 
       
"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," Erdogan said.
       
"We are making preparations for every kind of scenario," he said.
      
 "Nobody should dare to test us. We don't have any desire to take other 
people's lands... in the region," he added.
       
His remarks prompted a sharp riposte from Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon 
Saar, who pointed to Turkey's presence in Syria and in the divided island of 
Cyprus, where it controls the northern part.
       
"It is particularly ironic that someone who does not hide his imperialist 
ambitions, 

who invaded northern Syria and illegally holds northern Cyprus, claims to speak in the name of morality and international law," Saar wrote on X. 
       
"A little self-awareness could be helpful," he added.
       
On Monday, Erdogan said he had ordered the defence industry to increase 
production of medium and long-range missiles to "increase its level of 
deterrence" in light of the air war between Israel and Iran.