The Iranian Foreign Ministry has "strongly" condemned this Monday the "U.S. military aggression" against Lark Island, where authorities have admitted an unspecified number of fallen and injured fighters. At the same time, it has emphasized the "defensive" nature of the retaliatory actions launched by Iran against military facilities in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates.
"The U.S. terrorist army has once again attacked parts of Larek Island, violating the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran," the Ministry has denounced, specifying that, "as a result, several of our fervent defenders of the homeland and our dear compatriots were martyred and injured, and damage was caused to public and private property."
The department has also justified the "defensive and crushing blows" that the Iranian Armed Forces have "inflicted on the U.S. military bases located in Jordan," which it has pointed out as "the source and support of U.S. military aggression," without referring at this point to the Emirati base hit by the Iranian army.
On the other hand, the portfolio led by Abbas Araqchi has called on the UN Security Council and the Secretary-General, António Guterres, to "fulfill their obligations to preserve international peace and security and hold the aggressor accountable."
In the same vein, it has argued that "it is evident that full responsibility for the consequences of the new aggressive actions of the United States and the continuation of the naval blockade and economic war against Iran falls on the U.S. regime," as well as on "all parties that, in any way, collaborate or participate in the preparation and execution of the illegal and abusive actions of the United States."
The Ministry has also emphasized that "The Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran will not hesitate to exercise their inherent right to legitimate defense and will respond decisively to any military aggression from the enemy in an appropriate manner."
The Iranian diplomacy has also alluded to the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, where it has stated that "the only factor that has made the maritime route in the region unsafe are the illegal and aggressive actions of the United States and the Zionist regime, which began with the attack on Iran on February 28 and have continued in various forms over the last six months, including naval blockade and other provocative and interventionist actions."
Tehran assures that it is not seeking an open war
In parallel, the president of Iran, Masud Pezeshkian, has reiterated that the Islamic Republic is not "seeking war," a "clear message" that, he has argued, Tehran has conveyed to the international community "so far," according to statements collected by the Tasnim agency.
In this line, he has emphasized that "the instability and disturbances in the region do not benefit any country and represent a challenge for all," although he has warned afterwards that Iran will not refrain from responding to any attack: "We will never remain indifferent to any aggression and we will give a strong response to the aggressors," he has asserted.
Pezeshkian has made these statements before departing from the Iranian capital heading to Kyrgyzstan, where he is scheduled to participate in the XXVI Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) alongside other heads of state and representatives of the member countries, including Chinese President Xi Jinping.