US-Israeli bases are ‘legitimate targets’: Iranian official

ISTANBUL

An Iranian official declared Saturday that all American and Israeli bases in the region are considered “legitimate targets” for Iran and emphasized that the country has “no red lines” in “defending its national interests.”

“All Israeli and American bases in the region are legitimate targets for us in this war. Iran has no red lines when it comes to defending its national interests. The battle continues,” said Ebrahim Azizi, chairman of Iran’s Parliament National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, sharing the statement on the US social media company X.

Similarly, the Hatemul Enbiya Central Headquarters, affiliated with Iran’s Armed Forces, echoed the remarks of President Masoud Pezeshkian, who said: “We will not attack neighboring countries’ territories unless they attack us first.”

The headquarters’ statement reaffirmed that the Armed Forces respect the sovereignty and interests of neighboring countries and do not initiate attacks.

“However, as a continuation of previous offensive actions, all military bases and assets of the criminal America and the fake Zionist regime on land, sea, and air in the region will be crushed as primary targets by the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran and struck with severe blows,” it added.

Earlier, Pezeshkian announced that, according to the decision of the Interim Leadership Council, no missile strikes or attacks would be carried out against neighboring countries unless Iran itself is attacked.

Major General Abulfazl Shikarci, spokesperson for the Iranian General Staff, also stated that no area that does not provide facilities or access to the US and Israel has been targeted and will not be in the future, adding: “Strikes against the US and the Zionist regime will continue.”

US-Israel attacks on Iran

Tensions in the Middle East have escalated since the US and Israel launched a large-scale attack on Iran on Feb. 28, killing more than 1,000 people, including Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, over 150 schoolgirls, and senior military officials.

Iran has retaliated with sweeping barrages of its own that have targeted US bases, diplomatic facilities, and military personnel across the region, as well as multiple Israeli cities.