'We respect sovereignty': Iran denies ballistic missile launch on Turkey after NATO interception

Tehran: The General Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces issued a formal statement on Thursday denying that it had launched a missile toward Turkey, countering claims by Ankara that NATO defences had intercepted a projectile entering its airspace.

The Iranian military's response, disseminated by the Mehr news agency, emphasised its commitment to regional stability amid the ongoing conflict involving the United States and Israel.

“The armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran respect the sovereignty of the neighbouring and friendly country, Turkiye, and deny any missile launches toward that country’s territory,” the statement read.

On Wednesday, the Turkish Defence Ministry reported that a ballistic missile, which had reportedly crossed over Iraq and Syria after being fired from Iran, was neutralised by NATO air and missile defence systems positioned in the eastern Mediterranean. No casualties or injuries were reported following the interception, with debris landing in the Hatay province.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that his government is "taking all the necessary precautions" in coordination with NATO allies. He added that Ankara is delivering "warnings in the clearest terms to prevent similar incidents from happening again."

The incident marks the first time that Turkey, which possesses the second-largest military in NATO, has been directly affected by the regional hostilities that began on Feb. 28.