PRETORIA, April 2. /TASS/. Tehran does not view the Persian Gulf states as hostile; rather, it accuses the United States of involving them in a "war of whims" by using their territory and airspace to launch attacks against Iran, according to Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmail Baghaei.

In an interview with South African television broadcaster Newzroom Afrika Baghaei pointed out that Iran conducts its regional strikes in accordance with a 1974 UN General Assembly resolution, which stipulates that any country aiding an aggressor is considered an aggressor itself. He recalled Iran’s evidence showing the US operating military bases in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and other regional countries - actions that violate international law.

He reiterated that Iran's actions are defensive, aimed at protecting itself against aggressors, namely the US and Israel. Despite these tensions, Tehran maintains its commitment to good neighborly relations within the region.

On February 28, US and Israel started a war against Iran, targeting major cities including Tehran. In response, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Iran's elite military force, announced a large-scale retaliatory operation, striking Israel. American military facilities across Bahrain, Jordan, Iraq, Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia were also targeted in the retaliatory strikes.