ISTANBUL
The attacks that targeted Iran's largest steel factories contradict US President Donald Trump's deadline for diplomacy, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday.
"Israel has hit 2 of Iran's largest steel factories, a power plant and civilian nuclear sites among other infrastructure. Israel claims it acted in coordination with the U.S.
"Attack contradicts POTUS (US President Donald Trump) extended deadline for diplomacy," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said through the US social media company X.
Tehran will impose a "HEAVY price for Israeli crimes," Araghchi argued.
The top Iranian diplomat's remarks came after the US and Israel targeted Iran's Khuzestan and Mobarakeh steel companies, among the country's most strategic and largest steel factories.
Hostilities in the region have escalated since the US and Israel launched a joint offensive on Iran on Feb. 28, killing more than 1,340 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Tehran has retaliated with waves of drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets, inflicting casualties and infrastructure damage while disrupting global markets and aviation.