TEHRAN – Iran’s Foreign Ministry has worked tirelessly to defend the nation’s sovereignty, articulate Tehran’s diplomatic positions, and counter hostile public narratives and media propaganda in response to the coordinated military aggression by the United States and Israel against the Islamic Republic. 

Despite claims of “precision strikes” by Washington and Tel Aviv, Iran continues to expose the reality: attacks have deliberately targeted civilian infrastructure, schools, medical facilities, and cultural institutions, leaving scores of innocent lives destroyed. The objective, as Tehran asserts, is not only to destabilize Iran but also to erode the norms of international law, demonstrating a reckless disregard for human life and state sovereignty.

Since the start of the unprovoked aggression on February 28, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has intensified diplomatic activity, holding phone conversations with his counterparts from various countries — including Oman, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Russia and China — in line with efforts to raise awareness about the nature and consequences of the Tel Aviv–Washington aggression. In these calls, Araghchi emphasized that Iran will not compromise on its sovereignty and that the Islamic Republic has every right to defend itself against U.S. and Israeli attacks. He underscored that Iran was attacked without justification and sees no limits on its self-defense, making clear that no outside power can dictate Tehran’s response. At the same time, he reaffirmed that Iran does not seek conflict with its neighbors but will respond decisively to any aggression, while urging regional and global actors to pressure the U.S. and Israel to halt attacks that violate international law and threaten regional stability.

On March 1, Araghchi also sent a formal letter to United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and the members of the UN Security Council, with copies to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and foreign ministers of countries worldwide. In it, he condemned the U.S. and Israeli strikes as aggressive, unprovoked, and unlawful, highlighting the deliberate targeting of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, as a grave violation of international law. Araghchi warned that such acts threaten the foundations of the international legal order, embolden aggressors, and risk long-term regional instability. He stressed that Iran retains its inherent right to defend its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and people under Article 51 of the UN Charter, and called for the immediate accountability of the U.S. and Israeli leaders, holding them personally responsible for ordering and authorizing the attacks.

In addition to formal diplomacy, Iran’s to diplomat has used social media to provide a transparent account of the aggression and rally international attention. Araghchi’s posts on X (formerly Twitter) have highlighted U.S. and Israeli duplicity, exposing a pattern of “war of choice” waged on behalf of Israel and falsely framed as a response to an Iranian threat. He drew attention to the tragedy of Minab, where nearly 170 schoolgirls were massacred, describing it as a cold-blooded attack on children and civilians. Araghchi’s messages also underscore Iran’s strategic resilience: Decentralized Mosaic Defense, he wrote, enables Tehran to maintain control of military operations and determine the course and conclusion of the conflict on its own terms, despite the bombings in the capital.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei has also condemned U.S. and Israeli strikes, particularly the targeting of Gandhi Hospital in Tehran, as war crimes and crimes against humanity, noting that the attacks were carried out despite claims of sophisticated military technology and “precision targeting.” Baghaei has highlighted that these strikes reflect a deliberate effort to paralyze civilian life and terrorize the population, while continuing a broader campaign of aggression across the region.

The coordinated U.S.–Israeli attacks reflect a blatant disregard for international law and basic human morality. By targeting civilians, schools, and Iran’s Leader, the aggressors seek to intimidate the Iranian nation and undermine its sovereignty, while attempting to delegitimize Tehran’s right to self-defense. Yet, Iran’s response — both militarily and diplomatically — demonstrates a steadfast commitment to sovereign defense, international law, and regional stability. Through active engagement with neighboring states, the UN, and global partners, Tehran is making clear that any further aggression will be met with proportionate and decisive countermeasures. Iran’s narrative underscores a central principle: no foreign power can dictate its destiny or compromise its sovereignty.

In the face of these attacks, Iran continues to call on the international community to condemn aggression, uphold human rights, and ensure accountability for the architects of war crimes. The country is determined to protect its people, assert its sovereignty, and preserve regional peace — a stance that reflects both moral clarity and strategic foresight in an increasingly volatile environment.