Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei says US “military aggression” against his country is ongoing, adding that Washington’s economic pressure campaign and “so-called blockade” are part of that aggression.
Speaking to Al Jazeera, he rejects describing the situation as a “confrontation”.
“We have been defending ourselves. We have been defending Iran against military aggression by the United States, which, by the way, continues until now,” he says.
Baqaei adds that Iran is entitled to defend itself under Article 51 of the UN Charter.
“As long as their military aggression continues, we have no choice other than defending our territorial integrity and national sovereignty,” he says, adding that Tehran remains willing to use “every possible means, including diplomacy” to protect its national security and interests.
