Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned on Sunday that an Israeli airstrike on the energy facilities in Assaluyeh, southern Iran, marked a dangerous escalation, potentially drawing the Persian Gulf region and the wider world into war.
Speaking to foreign ambassadors in Tehran, Araghchi said the strike marked a dangerous new breach of international law and accused Israel of a strategic miscalculation by targeting civilian infrastructure.
Iranian officials say parts of Phases 14 and 4 of the South Pars gas field, along with the Fajr Jam gas refinery in Bushehr province, were hit by drones on Saturday. The attacks caused fires, which were later brought under control, according to the Oil Ministry.
“This is the first time such an attack has reached our nuclear facilities,” Araghchi said. “The silence of the UN Security Council is unacceptable.”
About nuclear negotiations with the United States, he said,“We were engaged in diplomacy. But we were attacked,” he said. “Now, our right to defend ourselves is undeniable.”
Araghchi said that during the first night of Iran’s military response, Tehran limited its strikes to Israeli military sites. “But since last night, we’ve expanded to economic targets and refineries,” he said, calling Israel’s attack on Assaluyeh “a strategic mistake.”
He also warned that continued aggression could lead to broader instability: “Dragging the conflict into the Persian Gulf can pull the entire world into war.”
The minister directly accused the United States of complicity, saying that Washington’s support for Israel enabled the attack. "We have detailed evidence of American backing through regional forces and military bases."
Despite the sharp rhetoric, Araghchi said Iran does not seek to expand the conflict beyond its borders “unless war is imposed upon us.”
“If the aggression stops, our response will stop too,” he added.
