Iran on Monday defended its strikes on US military bases in the Gulf, describing them as a lawful act of self-defence under international law.

It also accused the United Nations of unfairly criticising Tehran instead of holding the United States and Israel accountable for what it called continued military aggression.

In a statement posted on X, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei rejected remarks by a UN spokesperson expressing concern over Iranian strikes on US military facilities in the region and attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

Baghaei said the current situation should not be described as a “military confrontation” but as a continuation of what he called overt military aggression launched by the United States and Israel against Iran since February 28.

“Iran has not attacked anywhere,” he said, asserting that the country’s strikes on US military bases and assets along the southern coast of the Persian Gulf were carried out in exercise of its “inherent right of self-defence” under international law.

He criticised the UN for, in his words, blaming Iran for defending its sovereignty instead of holding the “actual aggressors” accountable for what he described as flagrant violations of international law.

Baghaei also called on regional countries hosting US military forces to prevent their territory and bases from being used to launch attacks against Iran, saying responsibility for the escalation also rests with states that allow such operations.

The Iranian spokesperson urged the United Nations to focus its criticism on countries facilitating US military operations rather than Tehran’s response.

He also objected to the UN spokesperson’s reference to the Gulf waterway, insisting that the internationally recognised name is the “Persian Gulf”.

Baghaei cited UN Secretariat directives issued in 1994 and 1999, which he said require the organisation to use the full term “Persian Gulf” in its official documents and communications.