Iran proposes regional probe into attacks as Tehran accuses U.S. of drone strikes
Iran’s foreign minister said Sunday Tehran is ready to sit with regional countries to form a joint investigation committee to determine the nature of the targets that have come under attack and whether they were American-linked as hostilities between Tehran and Washington continues to rage across the region.
In an interview with the London-based The New Arab (Al-Araby Al-Jadeed) newspaper to be fully published later Sunday, Araghchi said strikes carried out by Iran targeted “US bases and interests in the region” as part of Tehran’s response to attacks launched against Iran from those bases.
The minister said Tehran had obtained information indicating that the US and “Israel” were launching attacks from specific locations toward Arab countries.
“We have not targeted any civilian or residential area in the countries of the region so far,” he added.
Araghchi also threatened retaliatory attacks on American companies in the region if Iranian oil facilities are hit.
“If our energy facilities are targeted, we will also target the facilities of American companies in the region,” he said.
The top diplomat claimed that the US had developed a drone similar to Iran’s Shahed drone, called “Lucas,” which he said is used to strike targets in Arab countries, noting that this information is still under review.
Araghchi said communications with neighboring countries remain ongoing, including with Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Oman.
Diplomatic contacts “have not stopped,” he said, noting that several regional countries are conducting mediation efforts aimed at reducing tensions and proposing ideas to end the war.
Iran is ready to consider any proposals that would ensure a “complete end to the war,” he said.
