Iran says US forces' presence in cities has led to urban-area strikes in Gulf

Dubai: ​Iranian strikes near Gulf countries' urban areas are ⁠due to US forces ⁠relocating out of military ‌bases into ​hotels inside cities, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told Al Jazeera ​in remarks ⁠relayed in Iranian media on Wednesday.

"Wherever there were American forces ⁠gathering, ‌wherever there were facilities belonging to them, ‌they were targeted. ⁠It is possible some of these places ‌were near ‌urban areas," the top Iranian ‌diplomat said.

Araqchi ‌acknowledged that regional countries are "upset and their people have ⁠been ⁠harmed or bothered" by Iranian strikes, but added that the blame lay entirely with the US ​for starting the war on ​February ​28.