Iran says it is “entitled” to defend itself following Israeli strikes

 Iran’s foreign ministry says it “considers itself entitled and obligated to defend itself” after Israel hit military sites overnight in a wave of retaliatory strikes.

The ministry condemned Israel’s attacks in a statement, calling the action a “clear violation” of international law.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran emphasizes the use of all the material and spiritual capabilities of the Iranian nation to defend its security and vital interests, as well as standing by its duties toward regional peace and security,” the statement said.

Mixed signals: In an earlier statement Saturday, Iran appeared to downplay the impact of the attack, claiming its air defenses had successfully countered the strikes in three provinces – Tehran, Ilam and Khuzestan – and that the damage was “limited.”

The Israeli military has said that it was deliberate in only choosing to target Iranian military facilities, avoiding oil fields and nuclear assets.

The effect of the strikes, a US official told CNN, was to both “deter future attacks and also to degrade the capabilities of Iran being able to conduct those types of activities.”