Gulf states targeted for hosting US bases used in attacks on Iran — Envoy

By Goli Innocent

Iran’s ambassador to Nigeria has said some Gulf countries became targets in the ongoing conflict because they host United States military bases allegedly used to launch attacks against the Islamic Republic.

The envoy made the remark in a video shared by TheCable on X while addressing questions from journalists about the widening scope of the confrontation involving Iran, the United States and Israel.

During the briefing, a journalist asked why countries in the Gulf that were not directly responsible for starting the war appeared to be affected by the hostilities.

Responding, the ambassador insisted that Iran maintains cordial diplomatic ties with many of the nations in the Persian Gulf region.

“We have a very good neighbourhood relationship with the Persian Gulf countries. We have good relations and they are neighbours. We have real respect for these friendly relations with the Persian Gulf countries,” he said.

However, he noted that several of those countries host American military installations, which he alleged are being used to carry out attacks against Iran.

“But some Persian Gulf countries are the hosts of military bases of the United States. From those bases and facilities, they are now doing military operations against my country from bases in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain”

According to him, Iran’s actions were aimed specifically at such military facilities.

“So this is our legitimate right to defend ourselves in order to attack those bases from which we are receiving attacks by the United States. We only attack those bases, and this is our legitimate right,” he added.

The envoy maintained that Iran had previously warned that the conflict could expand beyond the immediate actors if military operations against the country were launched from bases located in neighbouring states.