Iran invokes UN charter in defence of strikes on US bases

Iran considers its military actions, including strikes against US bases in the Middle East, to be “completely legal” under its right to self-defence, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said. He said Tehran was acting in response to what he described as a US naval blockade and a “full-scale economic war”. “The Islamic Republic of Iran is in a position of legitimate self-defence and defence of national interests because of the continuation of the naval blockade and full-scale economic war,” Baghaei told reporters. He said Iran’s actions were legal “within the framework of the inherent right of self-defence based on Article 51 of the United Nations Charter”, adding that US attacks on civilians and the killing of children “completely invalidate” Washington’s claims.