Iran says dealt heavy blow to US bases after 'savage attacks'

Iran's armed forces have dealt a heavy blow to US bases and assets in the region that were the origin of American aggression against Iran, the Foreign Ministry says.

The escalation began in the early morning hours of Wednesday, the ministry said, when the US carried out "savage attacks" on areas in southern Iran under the pretext that one of its Apache helicopters had crashed over the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday night.

"These attacks constitute a flagrant violation of the United Nations Charter, particularly Article 2, Paragraph 4, and the fundamental rule prohibiting the use of force in international relations," the ministry's statement said.

"With these aggressive actions, the US ruling administration once again demonstrated its criminal and warmongering nature."

In response to the military aggression and the violation of Iran's national sovereignty and territorial integrity, the country's "powerful armed forces" struck US bases and assets in the region that were the origin of these aggressions, the ministry said.

The ministry added that the strikes were carried out in exercise of Iran's "inherent right to self-defense," following an announcement by the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps that it had launched missile attacks on four US targets in Jordan and destroyed an F-35 hangar.

The Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the "US crime of military aggression" against Iran. It reminded all countries in the region—particularly those on the southern shores of the Persian Gulf—of their "legal and moral responsibility" to prevent the US and Israeli military from using their territory and facilities to design, organize, execute, or support aggressive actions against Iran.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran will not hesitate in exercising its inherent right to self-defense, including by targeting the origin of attacks as well as bases and logistics facilities used to execute and support aggressive operations against Iran," the ministry warned.

The Foreign Ministry also reminded the United Nations, particularly the Security Council and the Secretary-General, of their responsibility to safeguard international peace and security and to hold "the aggressor parties" accountable.

Iran launches concerted retaliatory strikes against American military targets after fresh US aggression

Iran

Separately, Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi held telephone conversations late Tuesday with his Turkish and Saudi counterparts, Hakan Fidan and Faisal bin Farhan, to discuss the latest regional developments.

During the calls, Araghchi condemned the US military aggression and the violation of Iran's national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and emphasized Iran's "inherent right to self-defense" to allow the country's "powerful armed forces" to respond in kind.

The Turkish and Saudi foreign ministers discussed the situation with their Iranian counterpart.

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