Iran vehemently condemned a series of U.S. airstrikes launched against several locations within its territory, including coastal provinces and key railway infrastructure in the east. The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs characterized the attacks as aggressive violations of its sovereignty and declared its unwavering commitment to defending the nation’s territorial integrity.
The strikes followed incidents involving the passage of a vessel through the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz, which triggered U.S. military actions over the past 48 hours. Tehran denounced these operations as breaches of Article 2, paragraph 4, of the United Nations Charter, which prohibits the use of force against the territorial integrity of any state, as well as violations of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, an agreement aimed at ceasing hostilities in the region.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry also expressed condolences for the casualties among sailors resulting from the U.S. attacks. In response, Iran claimed it retaliated by targeting U.S. military facilities located in Bahrain and Kuwait, further intensifying the regional conflict.
On its part, the U.S. Central Command announced additional strikes against approximately 90 Iranian military targets, aiming to reduce Iran’s capability to threaten merchant shipping and civilian vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. This statement highlights the ongoing U.S. strategy to counter actions it views as destabilizing maritime security.
The escalation surfaces against a backdrop of stalled nuclear talks and prior military confrontations earlier this year. Following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian sites in February, Tehran retaliated with missile and drone attacks aimed at both Israeli and American military positions. These exchanges led to a brokered ceasefire through Pakistan’s mediation and a subsequent peace memorandum signed by Presidents Masoud Pezeshkian of Iran and Donald Trump in June. The memorandum entered into force shortly after and was followed by direct talks mediated by Pakistan and Qatar.