‘They host US military bases used to attack us’ — Iran defends striking Gulf countries

Mahdavi Raja, Iran’s ambassador to Nigeria, says Tehran considers it within its rights to strike US military bases in neighbouring Gulf countries, even if those states maintain friendly relations with his country.

Defending the decision during a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, Raja said since the US and Israel attacked Iran on Saturday, many of the strikes were launched from military bases in the surrounding Arab countries.

Iran has since conducted missile and drone strikes on multiple US military bases hosted in Gulf countries, including Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Kuwait, as retaliation.

“We have very good neighbouring relationships with the Persian Gulf countries, and we respect these friendly relations, but they are the host of the military bases of the United States,” Raja said.

“And from those bases now they are doing military operations against our country, from those bases in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, in the United Arab Emirates, and others.

“So this is our legitimate right, to defend ourselves and to attack those bases from which we are receiving the attacks by the United States.”

Earlier, a CNN report claimed Iranian intelligence has sent word to the US it could be prepared to open talks on how to end the war, citing people familiar with the indirect messages.

Raja denied the report, reiterating that Iran is focused on defending itself and has not initiated negotiations with the US.(The Cable)