The Khatam al‑Anbiya Central Headquarters of the Iranian Armed Forces stated on Tuesday that Iran’s ongoing retaliatory operations are exclusively aimed at Israeli and US military and strategic assets, emphasizing that Tehran remains committed to protecting the security and interests of neighboring and Muslim countries. The statement accused Israel and the United States of attempting to shift blame by portraying Iran as hostile toward its neighbors, framing such claims as part of a broader effort to misrepresent the conflict.
Iran’s military command described the “collapsing Zionist regime” and the “criminal United States” as acting in a desperate bid to target diplomatic centers and regional interests, seeking to escape a military deadlock. Tehran insists its responses to the February 28 US‑Israeli assault are disciplined and focused strictly on those it holds responsible for initiating hostilities, asserting that no neighboring or Muslim countries are intended targets.
The statement coincides with Iranian strikes on US bases across the Gulf, including Bahrain, in retaliation for the US‑Israeli operations that Iran says have killed at least 787 of its citizens. Iranian forces have used missiles and drones to target both US installations and Israeli-occupied territories, describing these actions as legitimate self-defense under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reiterated that Tehran does not seek escalation but will respond decisively to any threats to its sovereignty or national security. While Iran frames the operations as targeted and proportionate, regional observers express concern that the strikes, though intended for US and Israeli assets, have the potential to further destabilize the Middle East.
