Berlin: Iranian Ambassador to Germany Majid Nili says Europe must accept the reality of a strong Iran, stressing that Tehran will continue pursuing dialogue and engagement based on mutual respect while firmly defending its national interests.

According to IRNA, Nili said Iran's resistance to the recent US-Israeli military aggression has further demonstrated the country's decisive position, defense capabilities, and resilience. "Despite the existing political atmosphere and pressures, the path of dialogue and engagement based on mutual respect is still being pursued," he noted.

On February 28, the United States and Israel initiated a war of aggression against Iran with the assassination of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and several top military commanders. They also targeted a school in Minab, southern Iran, killing scores of elementary school children. In response, the Iranian Armed Forces carried out retaliatory attacks during the 40 days of the war, targeting US and Israeli military assets, which resulted in significant damage.

Nili also criticized Europe's response to the war against Iran, saying the country's regional position, defense capabilities and resilience has attracted growing attention among political and expert circles. He said even Iran's critics have realized that the country could not be excluded from the region's political and security equations.

The ambassador also said the embassy's main priorities over the past year included addressing the affairs of Iranians living in Germany, maintaining channels of communication with German officials, and defending Iran's national interests. He identified supporting Iranians abroad, expanding economic and trade relations, strengthening public diplomacy and engaging with German society as other priorities for the embassy.