Iran justifies missile attack on Israel as act of self-defense

Iran declared on Tuesday that its recent missile strike on Israel was a legitimate act of “self-defense,” citing Article 51 of the U.N. Charter. The move, according to Tehran, was in retaliation for a series of Israeli actions, including the assassination of a Hamas leader in Tehran and the wounding of Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon.

In a letter to the U.N. Security Council, Iran detailed its grievances against Israel, accusing it of violating Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The letter called for the Security Council’s intervention to stop Israel’s ongoing aggression.

“It is regrettable that the United Nations Security Council has failed in its fundamental duty to maintain international peace and security,” Iran expressed in the letter, criticizing the council’s “inaction” which has purportedly allowed Israel to breach fundamental international laws.

The Iranian government argued that its missile strikes, which reportedly involved around 180 ballistic missiles, were a response to escalating tensions following Israeli airstrikes that targeted Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and other military commanders in southern Beirut. These events have heightened the risk of a broader conflict in the region.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran reiterates its calls upon the Security Council to urgently and decisively intervene to halt Israel’s continued aggression and war crimes against Lebanon, Gaza, and Syria,” the letter stated. It further warned that Iran is “fully prepared” to undertake additional defensive actions, promising a “swift, decisive and stronger” response if Israel engages in similar operations.