IRAN REJECTS U.S. ‘SELF-DEFENSE’ CLAIM Iran has sharply dismissed U.S. justification for its involvement in the conflict, calling it “absolutely NOT self-defense” and instead “an act of aggression.” A U.S. State Department statement argued the action supports Israel and counters threats from Iran’s missile program and potential nuclear ambitions. Iran rejects this, saying no attack was made to justify self-defense and accusing Washington of misleading the world. Tehran continues to deny pursuing nuclear weapons, noting that international inspectors have found no evidence of a weapons program despite longstanding claims to the contrary.(*Walter Bloomberg)