US-Israel attack against Iran "unprovoked, illegitimate, against international law": Iran's Foreign Minister

Tehran: Iran Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Saturday said that the US and Israel's attack against his country is "unprovoked, illegal and absolutely illegitimate.

Araghchi justified Iran's retaliatory strikes against Israel and US military bases as an "act of self-defence", which he said is "absolutely legal and legitimate," Reuters reported.

"This attack was unprovoked, illegal and absolutely illegitimate and against international law and should be condemned. We are attacking military bases in the region as an act of self-defence. What we are doing is an act of self-defence, which is absolutely legal and legitimate," Araghchi said, according to Reuters.


Iran's Defence Minister Amir Nasirzadeh and Revolutionary Guards commander Mohammed Pakpour are believed to have been killed in an Israeli strike, according to sources familiar with Israel's military operations, and another regional source, Reuters reported.

Nasirzadeh was the Deputy Chief of Staff for the Iranian Armed Forces before taking charge as the Minister of Defence. The Minister began his military career as a fighter pilot.

Pakpour had assumed charge of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in 2025, after the death of the previous commander, Hossein Salami, following Israeli strikes.

Araghchi earlier alleged that the Israeli strike on an Iranian primary school for girls murdered dozens. Araghchi vowed to answer the strikes.

In a post on X, he said, "The destroyed building is a primary school for girls in the south of Iran. It was bombed in broad daylight, when packed with young pupils. Dozens of innocent children have been murdered at this site alone. These crimes against the Iranian People will not go unanswered."

Iran has retaliated, targeting Israel and US assets in some Gulf states. Multiple explosions have been heard in Iran's capital, Tehran, while blasts have also been reported in several other locations across the country.