TEHRAN — Iran’s Foreign Ministry condemned the European Union’s criticism of Iranian strikes on U.S. military bases in the Middle East as “a masterclass in selective moral outrage.” The ministry rejected EU assertions that the attacks violated international law, framing Iran’s actions as lawful self-defense.
Esmaeil Baqaei, a spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, accused EU leaders of “blaming Iran for exercising its right to self-defense against US aggression launched from bases in neighboring countries.” He said Iran’s strikes “against those bases and assets that are used to launch unlawful attacks against Iran are a lawful exercise of self-defense.” Baqaei added, “The EU must remain faithful to the rule of law and the principles of the UN Charter that it has long claimed to uphold. It must stop appeasing aggressors while blaming those who respond to unlawful attacks.” He also stated, “States have an established legal obligation not to allow their territory or assets to be used for invading other countries.”
The European Commission had criticized an Iranian attack on a U.S. air base in Kuwait last week, calling it a violation of Kuwait’s sovereignty. That strike reportedly injured at least four U.S. servicemembers and several American contractors.
Iran’s military said it targeted another U.S. air base on Sunday in response to new attacks by the Trump administration. The U.S. military announced over the weekend that it carried out strikes on “Iranian radar and command and control sites for drones.” U.S. Central Command described the strikes as “self-defense strikes” and a “measured and deliberate response” to “aggressive Iranian actions.”
Kuwait said late Sunday that its “air defenses are currently confronting hostile missile and drone attacks.” Meanwhile, Brian Finucane, a senior adviser to the U.S. Program at the International Crisis Group, wrote in response to CENTCOM’s statement that “this administration’s use of the terms ‘aggression’ and ‘self-defense’ [is] thoroughly in ‘war is peace’ territory.” The Trump administration has enforced a naval blockade that Iran has condemned as illegal and said must be lifted as part of any peace agreement.