Iran tells UN Israel attack was “self-defence”

Iran's ambassador to the United Nations Amir Saeed Iravani told the Security Council that Tehran was exercising its "inherent right to self-defence" in its unprecedented attack on Israel.

"The Security Council... failed in its duty to maintain international peace and security" after Israel's apparent strike on an Iranian consulate in Damascus earlier this month, Iravani said, Caliber.Az reports citing Iranian media.

Therefore, Tehran "had no choice" but to respond, he said, adding that his country does "not seek escalation or war," but will respond to any "threat or aggression."

According to him, Tehran attacked only military targets and tried to prevent damage to civilians.

"The actions were necessary and proportional. They were targeted, that is, they were only against specific military targets, they were carried out carefully to minimize possible escalation and prevent harm to civilians," the ambassador noted.

The Iranian diplomat reiterated that the attack was an exercise of the right to self-defense. He noted that the US, France and Britain had earlier prevented the UN Security Council from adopting a statement on the Israeli strike on the consulate in Damascus. In this regard, Tehran believes that it had no choice.

Meanwhile, a senior US official told ABC News that at least nine Iranian missiles that breached Israel's air defenses struck two of Israel's air bases, but no significant damage was reported.

Five ballistic missiles hit the Nevatim Air Base, damaging a C-130 transport aircraft, an unused runway and empty storage facilities, the official said. Four additional ballistic missiles hit the Negev Air Base, but there were no reports of significant damage, the official said.

A spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces said earlier Sunday that 99 per cent of the 300 "threats of various types" Iran launched at Israel, including 120 ballistic missiles and more than 30 cruise missiles, were intercepted by Israel's air defence system and Israeli Air Force fighter jets, as well as "aerial defense systems and aircraft of our partners."