Iran targets cities because US moved soldiers to hotels

(Patria) - Iranian attacks near urban areas in Persian Gulf countries are a consequence of the relocation of American forces from military bases to hotels within cities, said Minister of Foreign Affairs Abbas Araghchi to Al Jazeera in comments carried by Iranian media on Wednesday.

"Wherever American forces gather, wherever there are facilities belonging to them, they are a target. It is possible that some of these places are near urban areas," said the high-ranking Iranian diplomat.

Araghchi admitted that countries in the region are "disturbed and their people have suffered or been disturbed" by Iranian attacks, but added that the blame for the start of the war on February 28th lies entirely with the US.

Arab states of the Persian Gulf have faced more than 2000 attacks by missiles and drones on American diplomatic missions and military bases, as well as on oil infrastructure, ports, airports, ships, and residential and commercial buildings, most of which were directed at the United Arab Emirates.

On Wednesday, media reported on the continuation of missile attacks on Gulf countries. The United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia reported activating air defense, and witnesses reported hearing explosions in Dubai.

Araghchi also told Al Jazeera that Iran's stance against the development of nuclear weapons will not change significantly, adding that the new supreme leader has not yet publicly expressed his opinion on the matter.

The former supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed at the beginning of the US-Israeli war against Iran, opposed the development of weapons of mass destruction in a fatwa, or religious edict, issued in the early 2000s.

Western countries, including the US and Israel, have accused Tehran for years of trying to develop nuclear weapons, while Iranian authorities claim their nuclear program is exclusively for civilian purposes.

Araghchi said that fatwas depend on who issues them and added that he is not yet in a position to judge the views of Mojtaba Khamenei, the new Iranian supreme leader.