The joint military aggression by the Zionist Regime and the United States of America against the Islamic Republic of Iran, which began on February 28, 2026, with the martyrdom of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution & a number of senior officials of our country, and concurrently with attacks on military and civilian infrastructure including schools, hospitals, sports facilities, residential homes, and public service centers, and which continues unabated, constitutes a flagrant violation of Iran's territorial integrity and national sovereignty. Responding to this ruthless military aggression is Iran's inherent right to self-defense, as enshrined in Article 51 of the UN Charter. The armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran are utilizing all their capabilities to counter this criminal aggression. The exercise of Iran's inherent right to legitimate self-defense will continue until the aggression ceases, or until the UN Security Council fulfills its duty under Article 39 of the UN Charter by identifying and naming the aggressors and determining the responsibilities arising from their aggression. As has been elucidated in various correspondences with the UN Security Council, based on the fundamental principle of international law concerning the "prohibition of causing harm from one's own territory," states are prohibited from allowing their territory to be used, directly or indirectly, to cause injury or damage to other states. In this regard, UN General Assembly Resolution 3314, adopted by consensus and reflecting customary international law on the definition and instances of military aggression, considers in Article 3, paragraph (f), one instance of military aggression to be "The action of a State in allowing its territory, which it has placed at the disposal of another State, to be used by that other State for perpetrating an act of aggression against a third State." Furthermore, as a fundamental principle of international law, states must strongly prevent, and not facilitate or support, the launching of military aggression by forces stationed in their territory against other countries. It is evident that in the event of violation of these fundamental obligations, other states from whose territory military aggression is launched against a third state will bear international legal responsibilities, including with regard to compensation for direct and indirect damages incurred. The Islamic Republic of Iran, in exercising its inherent right to defend its national sovereignty, and in light of the clear failure of the UN Security Council to fulfill its duties and responsibilities under the UN Charter, has undertaken necessary and proportionate defensive operations against the bases and installations of the aggressors in the region. This action is legitimate from the perspective of international law, and prior and continuous warnings regarding it were issued at various levels. No factor can undermine Iran's inherent right to defend itself against the military aggression of the United States and the Zionist regime. Iran's defensive operations are directed against the targets and facilities that are the origin and source of the aggressive actions against the Iranian nation, or which serve such purposes. Regional countries have undoubtedly realized by now that US bases on their soil have not contributed to regional security, but are used only to support Zionist child-killers and American aggressors. The Islamic Republic of Iran remains committed to maintaining and continuing friendly relations with regional countries based on mutual respect, the principle of good neighborliness, and respect for each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity. It emphasizes that Iran's defensive operations against US military bases and installations in the region should by no means be construed as enmity or hostility towards the countries of the region.