Iran blames US for Israeli airstrikes amid tensions

THE Iranian government has blamed the US for the Israeli airstrike on its country this week.

- BONGANI HANS

In a statement released on Friday through its embassy in Pretoria, Iran's Foreign Affairs Ministry said the Zionist regime's aggressive actions against Iran could not have happened without US co-ordination and approval.

"Consequently, the US government, as the primary patron of this regime, will also bear responsibility for the dangerous repercussions of the Zionist regime's reckless actions," read the statement.

In February, US President Donald Trump signed a National Security Presidential Memorandum (NSPM), calling on Iran to be stopped from engaging in any nuclear programmes.

He said Iran should be denied a nuclear weapon and intercontinental ballistic missiles, and that its terrorist network should be neutralised and its aggressive development of missiles, as well as other asymmetric and conventional weapons capabilities, be countered.

International media reported yesterday that the Israeli military attacked Iran's nuclear and military sites, killing senior military officials and nuclear scientists.