Israel-Gaza-Lebanon live updates: Iranian president responds to Israel's retaliation

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Sunday his country would stand firm following Israel's attack on Iran.

"Definitely the free people will not back off in the face of this criminal, blood-thirsty regime. We have always defended the rights of our people and will continue to do so," Pezeshkian told cabinet members, according to The Associated Press.

Earlier, Iranian state TV reported that Pezeshkian said Iran would respond to Israel "appropriately.”

Israel attacked military targets in Iran on Saturday in retaliation for the barrage of ballistic missiles Iran fired on Israel earlier this month, marking the first time the IDF has openly attacked Iran.

Pezeshkian also warned tensions will escalate if Israel’s aggressions and crimes continue.

-ABC News' Ellie Kaufman

The U.N. Security Council will meet Monday at Iran's request after Israel’s retaliatory attack against the country, a spokesperson for the Israeli Ambassador to the U.N. confirmed to ABC News.

The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs called Israel’s retaliatory attack a "serious violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran and a flagrant breach of international law," in a letter requesting the U.N. Security Council meeting.

The letter from Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs was sent to the UNSC’s current president and U.N. Secretary General António Guterres.

-ABC News' Ellie Kaufman