Iran’s Foreign Ministry defends retaliatory strikes, slams US betrayal | News
Iran Claims Right to Self-Defense Amid U.S. and Israeli Strikes
Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs maintains that the nation is justified in its military actions against U.S. and Israeli targets, characterizing these responses as legitimate defenses under international law.
In a statement to Al Jazeera, spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei emphasized Iran’s entitlement to self-defense, citing the United Nations Charter as the basis for their actions. “We have every right in accordance with international law, with the UN Charter, to defend ourselves with all might,” Baghaei stated.
The remarks follow a series of coordinated airstrikes by the U.S. and Israel that reportedly targeted several Iranian cities, including Tehran, culminating in what U.S. President Donald Trump described as “major combat operations.” Iranian media reports indicate that at least 201 individuals have lost their lives as a result of these strikes, according to the Red Crescent.
In retaliation, Iran launched missiles at U.S. military installations and Israeli targets across multiple countries, including Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Baghaei asserted that the Iranian armed forces were taking action to “defend national sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Iran against these barbaric acts of aggression.”
These military actions occurred shortly after the conclusion of a third round of indirect negotiations between the U.S. and Iran regarding Iran’s nuclear program. Baghaei noted that the talks had shown promise, with discussions of technical aspects of a potential agreement scheduled for the following week. He highlighted the foreign minister of Oman, acting as a mediator, as acknowledging the progress made in the negotiations.
Baghaei pointed out that this was not the first time military aggression interrupted diplomatic efforts. He recalled a similar event last June when a U.S.-led operation coincided with ongoing negotiations.
He raised concerns regarding the implications of U.S. military actions on international law, stating, “Launching an act of aggression against another member of the United Nations threatens the very foundation of the UN Charter, which prohibits the use of force.”
In his defense of Iran’s retaliatory strikes, Baghaei asserted that under international law, any support provided to an aggressor becomes a legitimate target. “We are not attacking any country in the region. We are friendly with all countries of the region. What we are doing is just taking defensive actions,” he insisted.
He concluded by reiterating Iran’s commitment to regional cooperation, emphasizing that the U.S. military actions pose risks not only to Iran but to the stability of the entire region.
