Araghchi framed those strikes as defensive actions on Sunday, saying countries such as Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates “gave their soil to American forces to attack us… We cannot just remain silent on this.” He insisted Iran only targets American assets.
“There are, you know, people being killed only because President Trump wants to have fun,” Araghchi told CBS. “This is a war of choice by President Trump and the United States, and we are going to continue our self-defense.”
Iranian missile and drone strikes on the Gulf and Israel have killed more than 30 people, in addition to 13 U.S. service members.
More than 1,200 people have been killed in Iran, according to state media. It is unclear if the overall death toll includes Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps military casualties. Lebanon’s Health Ministry says at least 486 people have been killed in Israeli strikes there.
Araghchi also addressed the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping lane for global oil trade, where Iran has restricted passage to U.S. and Israeli vessels. Araghchi said Iran has provided safe passage to other countries that requested it, but declined to identify them.