Iranian FM says strikes on Gulf in response to US-Israeli strikes on Iran

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran's missile and drone strikes on the Gulf were responses to US forces using the territory of its regional allies. 

Speaking to CBS News, Araghchi framed the strikes as a direct response to US military personnel using Gulf nations to launch strikes on to Iran. 

“These are the countries that have given their soil to American forces to attack us,” Araghchi said.

“So what can we do? We just sit and watch that American forces are attacking us from their soil?… We are only targeting American assets, American installations and American military bases. Everything belongs to Americans.”

Earlier this week, Araghchi joined other ministerial colleagues at the annual al-Quds Day rally, as a show of defiance, after US War Secretary Pete Hegseth claimed Iran's leadership were hiding like "rats". 

Araghchi added that Iranian forces have provided safe passage for vessels from other nations and the Strait of Hormuz is not completely closed, but insecurity arises from US aggression.

“We provide them security to pass because we have not closed this strait. They are not coming themselves because of the insecurity that is there, because of the aggression by the US.”

Araghchi also said the Iranians had given up on negotiations and that they "don’t see any reason why we should talk with Americans, because we were talking with them when they decided to attack us, and that was for the second time".

He added: "This is a war of choice by President Trump and the United States, and we are going to continue our self-defence."