Iran says it reserves 'right to self-defense' after Israeli strikes amid heightened tensions

By Syed Zafar Mehdi

TEHRAN, Iran (AA) - Iran on Saturday strongly condemned Israeli airstrikes on its military sites, calling them a "violation of international law" and asserting its “right to self-defense.”

In a statement, Iran’s Foreign Ministry described the strikes, which took place earlier on Saturday, as an "aggressive action" targeting multiple military facilities across Iranian cities.

The statement emphasized Iran's "obligation to defend against foreign aggression" under the right of legitimate self-defense, as outlined in Article 51 of the UN Charter, which allows member states to use force in self-defense following an armed attack.

The ministry further highlighted Iran’s commitment to regional peace, reminding neighboring countries of their "individual and collective responsibility to maintain regional stability."

It also expressed appreciation for regional and international support from nations that condemned the attacks amid heightened regional tensions due to Israel's wars in Gaza and Lebanon.

Many countries have condemned Saturday’s attack, including Türkiye, Oman, Iraq, Malaysia, and the UAE.

"The Zionist regime's continued occupation, illegal actions, and crimes—particularly the genocide of the Palestinian people and aggression against Lebanon, sustained by the comprehensive support of the United States and other Western countries—are the primary causes of tension and insecurity in the region," the statement added.

Iran called for urgent international action to address "gross violations of international law, the UN Charter, the Genocide Convention, and international humanitarian law," urging signatories of the UN and parties to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and the Four Geneva Conventions of 1949 to act collectively against these violations.

Separately, Iranian government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani reported that the strikes caused "limited damage," adding that the situation remains under control.

The attack on military sites in Tehran and the provinces of Ilam and Khuzestan was reported at around 2.30 am local time (2300 GMT) when residents heard loud sounds from air defense systems.

In a statement, Iran’s Air Defense Forces said the Israeli strikes targeted sites in Tehran, Khuzestan, and Ilam provinces and claimed that its defenses successfully thwarted most of the strikes.

However, it added that the attacks caused "limited damage in some locations," with an investigation underway.

Iran’s army later announced that two soldiers were killed while "defending Iran's security and protecting its people and interests from projectiles launched by the Zionist regime."

The statement did not specify the exact locations affected or the extent of the damage.

This rare direct strike on Iranian military sites follows Iranian missile attacks on Tel Aviv conducted in retaliation for the killings of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Abbas Nilforoushan.

Iran had previously warned that any attack from Israel would result in a "stronger response."