TEHRAN: Iran on Friday strongly condemned what it described as joint military aggression by the United States and Israel, stating that its armed forces were fully prepared to respond under international law.
In a statement issued on 9 Esfand 1404 (February 28, 2026), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran said the country had been targeted by air strikes carried out by the United States and what it referred to as the “Zionist regime,” alleging that the attacks struck defensive installations as well as civilian locations in several cities.
The statement said the strikes coincided with the approach of Nowruz and the tenth day of the holy month of Ramadan, and termed the action a “clear violation” of Iran’s territorial integrity and national sovereignty.
Tehran maintained that the latest military action occurred while Iran and the United States were engaged in a diplomatic process. It said that although it had anticipated the possibility of further military escalation, it had continued negotiations to demonstrate its commitment to diplomacy and to show that there was no justification for aggression.
The Foreign Ministry stated that all necessary efforts had been made to prevent war and that Iran now considered it time to defend the country against what it described as military aggression. It added that while Iran had been ready for dialogue, it was now “more prepared than ever” for defence.
Citing Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, the ministry said Iran reserved the legal right to self-defence and that its armed forces would respond with full capacity. It also referred to Article 2(4) of the UN Charter, describing the strikes as a violation of the prohibition on the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.
The statement called on the United Nations and the Security Council to fulfil what it termed their responsibility to address actions that threaten international peace and security. It urged the UN Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council to take immediate action.
Iran further appealed to all UN member states, particularly countries in the region, Islamic nations and members of the Non-Aligned Movement, to condemn the attacks and take collective steps to safeguard regional and global stability.
The ministry concluded by asserting that Iran’s armed forces would defend the country decisively, stating that the Iranian people had historically resisted foreign aggression and would do so again.