The war has entered its seventh day on Friday (March 6), affecting an additional 14 countries across the Middle East and beyond. On March 5, Azerbaijan accused Iran of attacking it with drones — though Tehran denied that. Araghchi clarified that Iran did not attack its neighbours but targeted American bases and installations in neighbouring countries. “We did not attack our neighbours. We have not attacked Muslim countries. We have attacked American targets, American bases and installations which are unfortunately located on our neighbours’ soil,” he told NBC News.
Click here for live updatesIran’s attacks have targeted its Arab neighbours, disrupted oil supplies and snarled global air travel. The war has killed at least 1,230 people in Iran, more than 100 in Lebanon and around a dozen in Israel, according to officials in those countries. Six US troops have been killed.
Araghchi has also accused the US Navy of committing an “atrocity at sea” for sinking the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena in the Indian Ocean earlier in the week, killing at least 87 people.
“Mark my words: The US will come to bitterly regret (the) precedent it has set,” he said on social media.
The Iranian ship sunk by the US Navy was returning from an exercise hosted by the Indian Navy that the US also joined. Sri Lankan authorities said 32 crew members were rescued. Araghchi said it had been carrying “almost 130” crew.
Since the war began on February 28, ships have been attacked in the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of the world’s oil is shipped. That has caused oil prices to soar.
