Iran condemns US strikes, says it launched defensive attacks

Iran’s Foreign Ministry has strongly condemned what it described as US military aggression against the country, saying Iranian armed forces carried out strikes against US military bases in response.

In a statement issued on September 2, the ministry said the United States had attacked several areas and service infrastructure in Iran on the night of September 1, including telecommunications towers and sites in the provinces of Khuzestan, Sistan and Baluchestan, Hormozgan and Kerman.

The ministry claimed that the attacks killed and wounded a number of people and caused damage to public and private property. It also alleged that more than 70 people were killed or wounded in an attack on a wedding celebration in Kuhestak in Sirik County, Hormozgan Province, with most of the casualties being women and children.

The Iranian ministry described the reported attacks as “war crimes” and said they represented a violation of international law. It also linked the incidents to what it called previous US-Israeli actions in Iran over the past year and a half.

According to the statement, Iran’s armed forces subsequently carried out what Tehran described as defensive strikes against US military bases that had been used to launch or support attacks against Iran.

The Foreign Ministry said Iran was determined to defend its independence, national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Tehran also called on countries in the region to prevent any further escalation by denying the United States access to their territory and facilities for military operations against Iran.

The ministry urged governments to pursue and prosecute those responsible for what it described as serious violations of international humanitarian law.

It also called on the United Nations, particularly the Security Council and the UN secretary-general, to fulfil their responsibilities under the UN Charter.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry specifically referred to Article 2(4) of the UN Charter, which prohibits the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of states.

“The silence and inaction” of UN bodies in the face of violations by a permanent member of the Security Council would further undermine the credibility of the organisation and increase risks to international peace and security, the ministry warned.

The statement came amid heightened regional tensions and renewed exchanges of military action involving Iran and the United States. Tehran maintains that its military response was undertaken in exercise of its inherent right of self-defence.