08 Jan 2020 | 03:45 UTC — Tokyo

Iran taking 'proportionate measures in self-defense', not seeking war: foreign minister

Tokyo — Iranian foreign minister Javad Zarif said Wednesday that Tehran has taken "proportionate measures in self-defense", hours after front-month March ICE Brent crude oil futures surged more than $3/b to hit a high of $71.75/b at Wednesday's Asia open, after having launched missiles striking two US military bases in Iraq.

"Iran took & concluded proportionate measures in self-defense under Article 51 of UN Charter targeting base from which cowardly armed attack against our citizens & senior officials were launched," Zarif said in a tweet.

"We do not seek escalation or war, but will defend ourselves against any aggression," he said.

Iranian state TV said Tehran had started an attack on US facilities in Iraq in retaliation for last week's US drone strike in Baghdad that killed General Qassem Soleimani. Bases in Ain al Asad and Erbil were attacked, a spokesman for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said, according to Tasnim news agency.

"The Americans should know that they must leave the region," Mehr news agency reported, citing Esmail Kosari, deputy commander of IRGC's Sarallah Base. "The move carried out at dawn this morning is the primary step."

"A number of drones, helicopters and a lot of military equipment have been seriously damaged," state television reported, saying 15 missiles hit Asad.

The US Department of Defense said Iran launched more than a dozen ballistic missiles at bases housing US troops.

"Assessment of casualties & damages taking place now. So far, so good!" US President Donald Trump said in a tweet. "I will be making a statement tomorrow morning."

At 11:25 am Singapore time (0325GMT), the front-month March ICE Brent crude futures was 93 cents/b (1.36%) higher from Tuesday's settle at $69.20/b, while the NYMEX February light sweet crude contract was 73 cents/b (1.16%) higher at $63.44/b.

"In the absence of American casualties, the US will more likely than not refrain from a military response to this incident," Paul Sheldon, S&P Global Platts Analytics chief geopolitical adviser, said.

"But without vibrant diplomatic channels or a face-saving path to deescalation, the game of chicken will become more dangerous with each provocation," he added.

Related article: March ICE Brent spikes more than $3/b as Iranian missiles strike US bases in Iraq

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Additional coverage: US-Iran tensions

(Updates with Iran comments)

-- Takeo Kumagai, takeo.kumagai@spglobal.com

-- Meghan Gordon, meghan.gordon@spglobal.com

--Aresu Eqbali in Tehran, newsdesk@spglobal.com

-- Edited by Claudia Carpenter, claudia.carpenter@spglobal.com

Editor:

Norazlina Jumaat