Iranian Official Defends Retaliatory Strikes, Warns Middle East Conflict Could Escalate

By Bukar BOLORI

Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Gholamreza Mahdavi Raja has defended recent military actions taken by Iran against United States facilities in the Middle East, describing them as acts of self-defence following what he alleged was an assassination of Iran’s supreme leadership by Israel with support from the United States.

Speaking during a press briefing with international journalists, the official said protests by Muslims around the world over the reported killing of Iran’s spiritual leader were expected because of the leader’s influence across both Shia and Sunni communities.

According to him, demonstrations were recorded in several countries including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Indonesia, as well as parts of Europe and Africa.

Iran Targets U.S. Military Bases

The official said Iran’s military actions were directed at American military bases in the region and not at civilian infrastructure.

“We attacked United States military bases in the region because those bases were used to support aggression against our country,” he said.

He clarified that reports suggesting civilian airports were targeted may have been mistaken, insisting the intended targets were strictly American military facilities.

Iran had earlier informed neighbouring countries in the Persian Gulf that any retaliatory strikes would focus only on U.S. installations within their territories and not on their cities.

“This is an act of defence. We are not targeting neighbouring countries but the American facilities being used against us,” he said.

Retaliation Against Israel

The official also defended Iran’s attacks against Israel, saying they were justified responses to what he described as Israel’s attempt to assassinate Iran’s leadership.

He accused Israel and the United States of pursuing a broader strategy aimed at destabilising the Middle East.

According to him, conflicts in countries such as Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and Iraq are part of that wider strategy.

Warning of Wider Regional Conflict

He warned that continued escalation could trigger a broader regional conflict with significant consequences for the global economy.

The official noted that the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway through which roughly 20 percent of global energy supplies pass, could be affected by the crisis.

“This conflict will affect global energy markets. Transportation costs and oil prices will rise because the Persian Gulf may not remain secure,” he said.

Diplomatic Talks Suspended

The Iranian representative also said Tehran was not currently considering diplomatic negotiations, claiming that diplomacy had been undermined by recent attacks.

“We were negotiating, but diplomacy was killed when the attacks happened,” he said.

“For now, our focus is on defending our sovereignty and national security.”

Relations with Nigeria Remain Strong

Addressing questions about Nigerian citizens in Iran, the official assured that they remain safe and secure.

He also described relations between Iran and Nigeria as cordial and longstanding.

“Our relations with Nigeria go back more than 55 years, and they remain strong across sectors such as agriculture, energy, education and trade,” he said.

Criticism of International Institutions

The official criticised the international community, particularly the United Nations Security Council, for what he described as silence over the crisis.

He argued that global institutions had failed to respond adequately to what he called acts of aggression.

“Iran Does Not Seek War”

Despite the tensions, the official insisted that Iran does not seek war and has not initiated attacks against other countries for more than two centuries.

However, he emphasised that Iran would continue to defend itself if its sovereignty is threatened.

“We are not a country seeking war, but we will defend ourselves in any way necessary,” he said.