'We Are Only Targeting US Bases, Assets': Iran Claims 'No Casualty' In Gulf Nations Amid War

Last Updated:March 06, 2026, 10:38 IST

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh said Tehran’s attacks are aimed only at US bases and assets, claiming there have been no casualties among Arab neighbours.

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh said that Iranian military strikes in the ongoing regional conflict have been carefully directed at American targets, asserting that no casualties have occurred among neighbouring Arab countries.

Speaking at the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi, Khatibzadeh defended Iran’s actions and claimed that Tehran’s operations are focused solely on US assets.

“Why is there not a single case of casualties among our Arab friends or neighbours in our attacks?" he asked.

“Because we are only targeting American bases, American assets, and the places where they are hiding within various residential areas," he said.

His remarks come as tensions in the region continue to escalate following a series of missile and drone attacks and retaliatory strikes involving Iran, Israel and the United States.

KHATIBZADEH SLAMS US STRIKE ON UNARMED VESSEL

Khatibzadeh also criticised a recent US attack on a vessel that he said had been present in India on invitation.

“That vessel was here on the invitation of our Indian friends. This attack from the US is very unfortunate that they attacked an unarmed vessel," he said.

He added that during his visit to New Delhi, he held a brief meeting with India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

IRAN ‘AN INSTITUTIONAL COUNTRY’

Responding to claims by Washington that Iran’s political system could collapse following the assassination of its leadership, Khatibzadeh insisted that the country’s governance structure is based on institutions rather than individuals.

“The United States says that there is no government in Iran. If it were just a ‘regime,’ then when you assassinate the head of another country, it would collapse," he said.

He emphasised that Iran has an established constitutional framework with clearly defined branches of power.

“Iran is an institutional country. It has a constitution, a distribution of responsibilities, and a separation of powers. There is an executive, a judiciary, and a legislature," Khatibzadeh said.

Referring to the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader in the ongoing conflict, he said the country’s institutions had continued to function.

“That is why, even after they illegally and unlawfully assassinated our Supreme Leader and turned him into a martyr, the government, society, and the country continued to move forward. That is our strength," he said.

KHATIBZADEH PAYS TRIBUTE TO KHAMENEI

Khatibzadeh also visited the Iranian Embassy in New Delhi on Thursday to sign a condolence book in memory of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a US-Israel-led strike on Iran.

Iranian state media reported that preparations were underway at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla, a major prayer complex used for the city’s most significant state-religious gatherings, where the body of the late leader will be placed as part of a three-day farewell ceremony.

Following established protocol, the ceremony will be followed by a funeral procession, with thousands of mourners expected to gather to pay their final respects.

RAISINA DIALOGUE IN NEW DELHI

Khatibzadeh’s remarks came during the eleventh edition of the Raisina Dialogue, India’s flagship conference on geopolitics and geo-economics.

The conference was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finland’s President Alexander Stubb.

Hosted by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) in partnership with the Ministry of External Affairs, the Raisina Dialogue has, over the years, established itself as a major platform for global discussions on geopolitics, geo-economics and international public policy.

News world 'We Are Only Targeting US Bases, Assets': Iran Claims 'No Casualty' In Gulf Nations Amid War

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