Erdogan says Iran has 'legitimate and legal right' to self-defence against Israel

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said Iran had the "legitimate" right to defend itself in the face of Israel's ongoing bombing campaign.

"It is a very natural, legitimate and legal right for Iran to defend itself against Israel's thuggery and state terrorism," he said.

A day earlier, Erdogan referred to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as "the biggest threat to the security of the region".

"These attacks were organised while the Iranian nuclear negotiations were taking place," Erdogan said. "Israel, which possesses nuclear weapons and does not recognise any international rules... did not wait for the negotiations to end but carried out a terrorist act without waiting for the result."

The Turkish leader added that Ankara was closely following Israel's "terrorist attacks" on Iran, and would be on high alert for the possible effects on Turkey.

"We are making preparations for every kind of scenario," he said. "Nobody should dare to test us. We don't have any desire to take other people's lands... in the region."