TEHRAN: Iran has warned Gulf states against allowing their territories to be used as launchpads for military operations against the Islamic Republic, saying such actions would amount to participation in aggression and undermine regional stability.
The warning came as Iran’s Foreign Ministry sharply criticised the United States over its recent military actions, accusing Washington of violating international law and escalating tensions across the Middle East.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei rejected descriptions of the ongoing hostilities as a conventional military confrontation, arguing that the conflict stemmed from what Tehran described as an “unprovoked act of aggression” launched by the United States and Israel on February 28.
Baqaei maintained that Iran’s strikes on US military bases and assets stationed in the southern Gulf were carried out under its inherent right to self-defence, as recognised under international law. He said Iran had acted in response to military attacks against its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Calling on Gulf countries to reconsider their role in the crisis, Baqaei urged them to immediately stop allowing the United States to use their territories for operations targeting Iran.
He argued that facilitating such military activities would further inflame regional tensions and increase the risk of a wider conflict.
The Iranian spokesman also criticised what he described as attempts to portray Iran as the aggressor while failing to hold the United States and Israel accountable for what Tehran considers serious violations of international law.
Separately, Iran’s Foreign Ministry accused Washington of committing a “flagrant violation” of the UN Charter through its military actions over the past 24 hours.
It further alleged that US interference with Iran’s arrangements in the Strait of Hormuz had created insecurity and disrupted international commercial shipping through one of the world’s busiest maritime trade routes.
The latest exchange of accusations comes amid heightened tensions in the region, raising fresh concerns over the security of Gulf states and the safety of international shipping through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
