Iran warns Gulf states against cooperation with US and Israeli forces

TEHRAN, Iran — TEHRAN — Iran's Foreign Ministry accused the U.S. military of bombing parts of southern Iran after shooting down an Iranian Apache helicopter in the Strait of Hormuz, calling the strikes a "clear violation" of the UN Charter and of the prohibition on the use of force in international relations. In a statement released Thursday, the ministry said Iran's armed forces had delivered "heavy" strikes against U.S. bases and assets used to carry out the attack, actions it described as an exercise of legitimate self-defense. The statement condemned the U.S. military operation against Iranian territory. Iran called on all regional states, particularly those on the southern coast of the Persian Gulf, to prevent U.S. and Israeli forces from using their territory and facilities to plan, organize, carry out or support operations against Iran, saying those governments bear legal and moral responsibility to do so. Tehran warned that it would not hesitate to exercise its inherent right of self-defense by targeting the sources of any attacks, as well as the logistical bases and facilities used in such operations. No further details on the alleged helicopter incident or the reported U.S. strikes were immediately available from independent sources.