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Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Washington had the right to attack forces on Iranian territory to protect US interests.
In an interview on January 13, US Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Article II of the Constitution granted the US President the right to allow the country's military to conduct air strikes on Iranian territory in the interests of Iran. Washington is threatened.
US Defense Secretary Mark Esper spoke in Palm Beach, Florida on December 29 Photo: AFP
He also asserted that the Military Use Authorization Act (AUMF) allowed the US military to attack Iranian-backed proxies in Iraq.
"We will uphold the right to self-defense, as well as take action to hold Iranian proxy forces accountable for their actions whenever appropriate and legally sufficient," the Esper said. added that the killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani was also for self-defense.
"The United States is now safer than a few weeks ago, because we have eliminated Soleimani, the world's leading terrorist, whose hands are stained with the blood of hundreds of American soldiers," said the Pentagon boss. stressed that the Iranian air strike also aimed to "reset deterrence" with Tehran.
Although US President Donald Trump and senior administration officials made inconsistent statements about the threat Washington faces, Esper insisted the Pentagon "had a very thorough explanation" of the reason. for killing Soleimani.
Tensions between the United States and Iran escalated after the United States on January 3 killed Soleimani, commander of the Quds task force of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards, outside Baghdad airport, Iraq. In retaliation, Iran on January 8 launched dozens of missiles into two US bases stationed in Iraq, but did not cause casualties.
US Attorney General William Bar yesterday also asserted that Trump has authority to order the murder of Soleimani, because the Iranian general was a "legitimate military target" and the air strike aimed at him was "a legal act of self-defense". of America. However, many US lawmakers criticized the government for not providing specific information on the cause and legal grounds for this decision.
