Tehran, Iran – More than 5,000 people, including hundreds of women and children, were killed in U.S. and Israeli attacks against Iran, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said, according to Iranian media.
Speaking at a press briefing in New York, Araghchi said the attacks struck civilian areas and infrastructure, including residential communities, schools, hospitals, energy facilities, sports and cultural complexes, and transportation infrastructure.
The claims were reported early Saturday by Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency.
Araghchi also accused the United States and Israel of carrying out what he described as the assassination of Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and several senior political and military officials.
He called the killings “flagrant crimes” and said they violated international law, according to Fars.
The casualty figures and other allegations were made by Araghchi and were not independently verified in the report.
Iran has faced intensified tensions with the United States and Israel following the attacks launched on Tehran and other Iranian cities on Feb. 28, according to the report.
The conflict has also affected regional security, with Iran tightening its grip on the Strait of Hormuz.
On June 18, the United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the war in the region on all fronts, including Lebanon, according to the report.
The two sides were scheduled to hold negotiations within 60 days to reach a final agreement. That deadline expired on Aug. 17, with the status of the talks remaining unclear amid renewed escalations.
