Iran pledges to persist in striking bordering nations that back its foes

n n

Iran’s hardline judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei

n

Iran’s hardline judiciary chief said on Saturday the Islamic republic would continue targeting regional neighbours offering its enemies “points… used in aggression against our country”.

n

“Evidence from Iran’s armed forces shows that the geography of some countries in the region is openly and covertly at the disposal of the enemy,” said Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei.

n

“The government and other pillars of the system are in agreement” that “heavy attacks on these targets will continue,” he added.

n

Ejei is a member of the interim leadership council installed after Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in US-Israeli strikes that opened the fighting on February 28.

n

Iran has repeatedly targeted its Gulf neighbours in response to the aerial offensive, with some strikes aimed at civilian infrastructure — although Tehran maintains it only attacks US assets or bases.

n

A total of 13 people, seven of them civilians, have been killed in Gulf countries since the war broke out.

n

One victim, an 11-year-old girl, died in Kuwait after being struck by debris in a residential neighbourhood.

n

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian had earlier on Saturday apologised for Iran’s attacks on its neighbours, promising restraint unless their territory was used to strike Iran.

n

The Gulf countries have said their territory has not been used in attacks against Iran, and even before the war began, they had repeatedly said they would not allow such attacks on their neighbour.

n

Nevertheless, Iran’s parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said that “as long as American bases exist in the region, countries will not see peace”.

n

“All officials and people are united on this principle,” he added.

n n