War: Iran did not attack Persian Gulf states, only attacking US bases – Ambassador

Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Nigeria, Gholamreza Raja, has said his country did not attack neighboring Persian Gulf states in the wake of airstrikes launched by the United States and Israel on the country.

The ongoing US/Israeli military operation, which commenced February 28, resulted in the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Following the airstrikes, there have been reports of Iranian missile and drone attacks on neighboring countries in the Gulf region, including Kuwait, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. The development led to fears of an expansion of the war.

However, speaking during a press conference at the Iran embassy in Abuja on Thursday, Raja said Iranian forces did not attack any country in the region.

Rather, Raja explained that Iran is only attacking US military bases in those countries.

The envoy insisted that Iran continues to maintain a very friendly relationship with its neighbors in the Persian Gulf.

He declared that attacking US bases in neighboring countries is a legitimate right of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

“We have a very good relationship with neighboring Persian Gulf countries. We are very good neighbors. But some of the Persian Gulf countries are hosting military bases of the United States.

“Now, from those bases and facilities, the United States is carrying out military operations against my country. In Kuwait, in Saudi Arabia, in UAE, in Bahrain. It is our legitimate right to defend ourselves by attacking those bases from which we are being attacked by the United States. We only attack those bases. That is our legitimate right and we will do that because they provided those bases for the United States,” Raja said.

Noting that it was inevitable that the war will spread across the region, Raja recalled comments made by late Supreme Leader Khamenei, about three weeks ago, on the consequences of any US/Israeli military operation against Iran.

“Our late Supreme Leader mentioned, I think three weeks ago, that if any war will breakout between Iran and the United States or the Zionist regime, that the war will spread to the region. He conveyed this message clearly. He made it clear that if you attack us, we will attack all the interests of the United States in the region. And we are doing that because we announced this before. We cannot close our eyes,” he said, adding that Iran formally communicated the decision to attack the US bases in the Persian Gulf to the host governments.

“We conveyed a clear message through telephone conversations with all ministers of foreign affairs of the Persian Gulf countries,” the ambassador said.

“We told them that you are our brothers, we do not have any issues with your country, with your people and with your territory. You are our friends and we have a long history of relationship. We only attack the bases. Not, for example the settlements or infrastructure. We only attack the military bases and capabilities of the United States and I believe any country in Iran’s shoes will do that because this is war. I cannot sit down and receive all the missiles, the rockets, the bombardments and not do anything.

“The United States surrounded my country with all these military bases and some European politicians are asking why are you attacking the Persian Gulf countries? We are not attacking Persian Gulf countries, we are only attacking those military bases. And we will continue to do that if they don’t stop supporting and supplying logistics support to the aggressors.

“The attack on United States bases is an act of defence. We attacked them because the United States used those bases to attack our country. We informed the Persian Gulf countries that these attacks are only against the United States bases and we will try to only target those bases, not the cities.”

Raja, who spoke on the response of the Iranian government to the US/Israeli military operation, said Iran’s priority at the moment is defence.

He said it is not time for negotiation.

“Today we are united in order to defend our country against the aggressors. And we will do that. The government and the people are united, they support each other to take care of our internal sovereignty and our borders to prevent foreigners from invading Iran or weakening our country,” the envoy stressed.

“We concentrate on defence. Now is not a time for negotiation, now is time for defending our country.”

The ambassador disclosed that, following the commencement of the airstrikes and the killing of the Supreme Leader, he received the sympathy of the Nigerian government to the Government and People of Iran, conveyed through Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mrs Bianca Ojukwu.

He assured of the safety of Nigerians in Iran, explaining that so far, there has not been any report of casualties among the Nigerian population in the country.