New Delhi, March 14 -- The representative of Iran's Supreme Leader in India, Abdul Majid Hakeem Ilahi, on Saturday defended Iran's attacks on neighbouring Gulf countries amid the West Asia conflict, saying that the strikes are aimed at US-backed bases used against Tehran and are part of self-defence measures taken by the regime.

In an interview with ANI, Ilahi said Iran has been in the region for thousands of years and is compelled to act against attacks originating from foreign bases.

He added that the United States has established 33 to 45 military bases around Iran and that Tehran had asked its neighbours not to allow these bases to be used against Iran by the US, but attacks continued.

"We were living in this region for more than t...