Iran considers its “defensive” actions “completely legal”, including strikes against US military bases in the Middle East, Al Jazeera quotes Esmaeil Baqaei as saying.

“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,” the foreign ministry spokesman said.

Baqaei told reporters that Tehran considers its actions legal “within the framework of the inherent right of self-defence based on Article 51 of the United Nations Charter”.

“The United States’ resort to attacks against civilians and the killing of children in an attempt to pressure the Islamic Republic of Iran completely invalidates their claims,” he added.