Iran reaffirms right to self-defense, calls on world to condemn U.S., Israeli attacks

By Favour Ulebor, Abuja

The Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Nigeria, Gholamreza Mahdavi Raja, has urged the international community to condemn what he described as deliberate military aggression by the United States and Israel, while reiterating Iran’s right to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday in Abuja, Mahdavi Raja said the attacks occurred during the tenth day of Ramadan and the threshold of the Iranian New Year, targeting civilian infrastructure including schools, hospitals, medical and humanitarian centers, and residential areas. He highlighted the bombing of a girls’ school in Minab, which resulted in the deaths of 167 schoolgirls.

“This atrocity is not merely a military operation; it is a flagrant violation of Article 2, paragraph 4 of the UN Charter,” he said. “Targeting children in a school is not a wartime accident; it is an unmistakable war crime. We were negotiating, and suddenly faced bombardment and aggression.”

The ambassador emphasized Iran’s legal and moral stance, noting the country is exercising its inherent right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter. He warned that foreign military installations in the Persian Gulf used against Iran are legitimate targets for defensive operations.

“Some countries host U.S. military bases that are being used to attack Iran. It is our right to defend ourselves and target those bases. We do not attack civilian cities or infrastructure,” Mahdavi Raja said, cautioning that failure to uphold international law could put other nations at risk.

He called on UN member states to condemn the attacks, stressing that indifference would embolden aggressors and undermine global security. “Upholding these obligations is essential to preserving global order and security,” he said.

Regarding succession after the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mahdavi Raja noted that no final decision has been made, stating, “We have many options. We are thinking about it.”

Addressing concerns about Nigerian citizens in Iran, he assured their safety and highlighted the strong bilateral relations between Iran and Nigeria. “We have not received any reports of casualties or injuries among Nigerian citizens in Tehran, Qom, or other cities. They are secure, and relations between Tehran and Abuja remain strong across politics, economy, agriculture, energy, education, and industry,” he said.

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