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Iran demands GCC clarify stance after US ‘serving side by side’ claim
Esmaeil Baqaei made the remarks after commander of US Central Command Admiral Brad Cooper called Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Bahrain, as well as Jordan as “the most prominent countries that have been most helpful and served side by side” in the aggression, Press TV reported.
Publishing footage showing Cooper’s remarks, Baqaei said, "If this claim by the American official is not true, the mentioned governments should officially and transparently reject it."
The spokesman stressed the Islamic Republic’s “inherent and legitimate” right of self-defense as well as its right to attack hostile targets in countries used as launch pads for anti-Iran offensives.
"In such circumstances, when the Islamic Republic of Iran, within the framework of its inherent and legitimate right of self-defense, targets bases as well as military and logistic assets of the US on the territory of these countries, raising the question, ‘Why has Iran done this?’ is irrelevant," he said.
Baqaei emphasized that the main source of insecurity and conflict in the region is the US-Israeli aggression against Iran.
"Any participation in this aggression, including by providing a platform for military operations, is considered a manifestation of an aggressive act and a violation of the principle of good-neighborliness and Article 2 (4) of the United Nations Charter, based on the UN General Assembly Resolution 3314 on the definition of aggression."
The spokesman stressed that, “The Islamic Republic of Iran's self-defense is carried out in order to restore security and stability for the entire region."
The US military has conducted new waves of deadly strikes on Iran and reinstated a blockade of Iranian ports in flagrant violation of a war-termination deal.
In response, Iran’s Armed Forces have launched heavy reprisal attacks against strategic American targets across the region, declaring the Strait of Hormuz closed “until further notice” and at least until “the end of US interference in the region.”