Iran Launches Attacks on US Military Bases, Citing ‘Legitimate Defense’ and Accusing Trump of Igniting War

Original article: Irán ataca bases militares de EE.UU. en «legítima defensa» y denuncia que Trump «avivó el fuego de la guerra y traicionó la vía diplomática»

Iran has justified its attacks on US targets in the Middle East by invoking the right to legitimate defense, while accusing Donald Trump of «betraying diplomatic efforts» and being primarily responsible for escalating military tensions.

In an official statement, the Iranian Foreign Ministry condemned the “colonial and hegemonic” US policies that infringe upon the sovereignty of other nations by establishing bases and deploying military forces on their territories.

Furthermore, Iran stated that its retaliatory actions fall within the framework of the «inherent right to legitimate defense» enshrined in Article 51 of the United Nations (UN) Charter and rejected any characterization of its actions as unjustified aggression.

“Iran’s defensive actions against military bases and the resources used to carry out these aggressions align with the inherent right of legitimate defense, according to international law and Article 51 of the UN Charter,” the statement asserted.

Tehran called upon Gulf countries to immediately prevent Washington from using their territory, airspace, or territorial waters as a launchpad for attacks against Iran. The Foreign Ministry warned that allowing such use would facilitate the prolongation and expansion of conflict throughout the region.

The Islamic nation emphasized that the only guarantee of lasting security lies in mutual understanding and cooperation among regional countries, free from external interference, urging Gulf governments not to become instruments of what it describes as a “US-Zionist conspiracy” aimed at sowing discord and mistrust among nations in the region.

The Persian Foreign Ministry condemned the military aggressions of Washington, which have impacted “multiple areas” of the country, as well as civilian facilities, labeling them crimes against the Iranian people. According to the statement, these attacks represent a “flagrant violation of the UN Charter” and fundamental norms of international law.

Particularly concerning to Iran are the recent threats from US President Donald Trump, who has warned of destroying bridges, power plants, and key infrastructure in the country; threats that, if carried out, would amount to “serious international crimes.”

Iran Accuses Trump of ‘Openly Betraying Diplomatic Efforts’

The core of the Iranian accusation centers on the responsibility of Washington for the ‘breaking of the pact’ signed in Islamabad.

The Foreign Ministry recalled that, for the third time in a year, the Trump administration has ‘openly betrayed diplomatic efforts’ while negotiations were ongoing. Tehran cited the 14-point memorandum of understanding mediated by Pakistan in June as an example: Washington did not even respect its own signature and, just twenty days later, invoked a pretext to breach various provisions of the agreement and “rekindle the fires of war” against Iran.

“Total responsibility for the consequences of this breach of the pact falls on the United States,” emphasized the Persian Foreign Ministry, according to HispanTV.

The statement highlighted that US violations against Iranian territory date back to April 7, when Trump announced a unilateral ceasefire that never materialized, and that violations continued even after the signing of the Pakistan-mediated agreement, whose first clause required the cessation of aggression on all fronts.

In response to this escalation, the Army and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have launched effective attacks against US bases in the region and have warned that they will continue to respond reciprocally to aggressions as long as Washington maintains its belligerent stance.