Tehran: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has warned that any continuation of Israeli “aggression” will trigger a “more devastating” response from Tehran, as fighting between the two adversaries entered its ninth consecutive day.

“Our response to the continued aggression of the Zionist regime will be more devastating”, said Pezeshkian during a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron, according to the official IRNA news agency.

He also defended Iran’s right to pursue a civilian nuclear program cannot be taken away by war.

“Iran has always announced that it is ready to provide guarantees and build confidence in its peaceful nuclear activities within the framework of international law”, Pezeshkian told Macron in a phone call.

“The rights granted to countries and nations by international law cannot be taken away from them by threats or war”, he added.

He further added that Iran will not halt nuclear activity “under any circumstances” amid ongoing fighting with Israel which hit nuclear sites.

“We are ready to discuss and cooperate to build confidence in the field of peaceful nuclear activities, however, we do not agree to reduce nuclear activities to zero under any circumstances”, said Pezeshkian.

Meanwhile, an Israeli attack on Saturday in Iran's west killed at least five army personnel and wounded nine others, Iranian media reported.

"Five army officers were killed and nine others were wounded in today's attack by the Israeli regime on the western city of Sumar" in Kermanshah province, the Fars news agency reported, quoting a provincial official.

(with inputs from AP and AFP)