Iran Responded in Self-Defence Against US and Israel, Says Abbas Araghchi

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has defended his country’s attacks on American military facilities, saying the strikes were a legitimate response carried out in self-defence.

Speaking in an interview with American media outlets, the Iranian diplomat said that the recent attacks targeting US assets were a reaction to what he described as a conflict imposed on Iran by the United States and Israel.

Araghchi stressed that Tehran did not initiate the confrontation and had no intention of escalating tensions. Instead, he said Iran had been forced to respond after facing attacks.

“Iran did not choose this conflict,” he said, adding that the country is simply defending itself. According to him, the current confrontation with Iran is “unprovoked, unnecessary and illegitimate.”

The Iranian foreign minister said that Iranian forces targeted American military bases, installations and assets located in the region as part of their response. He described these strikes as defensive actions meant to counter attacks against Iran.

Araghchi further accused Israel and the United States of targeting civilians during the conflict. He claimed that Iranian citizens, including students, had been killed and that hospitals had also come under attack.

The minister also referred to the collapse of a previous ceasefire following last year’s 12-day conflict, saying the truce had already been broken by Israel and its allies. He questioned calls for another temporary ceasefire, arguing that only a permanent end to the war would bring stability.

“If the war is not permanently ended, Iran will continue defending its people and its security,” he said.

During the interview, Araghchi also addressed speculation about Iran’s future leadership. He noted that it remains unclear who will become the next supreme leader of Iran.

According to him, the matter will ultimately be decided by the Assembly of Experts, a constitutional body responsible for selecting the country’s supreme leader.

The Assembly of Experts consists of 88 senior clerics who are elected by Iranian voters and tasked with choosing the supreme leader when the position becomes vacant.

Araghchi made it clear that Iran would not tolerate outside interference in its internal affairs. He also rejected the demand for “unconditional surrender” reportedly made by former US President Donald Trump.

“Iran will never accept such conditions,” he said, emphasizing that decisions about Iran’s future would be made solely by the Iranian people.