Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday strongly condemned U.S. strikes targeting an Iranian oil tanker and a telecommunications tower on Qeshm Island, warning that Tehran would respond to actions it characterized as “violations of international law and the existing ceasefire framework”.
In a statement carried by Iran’s state news agency IRNA, the ministry accused the United States of conducting hostile operations against “Iranian assets” in the early hours of Wednesday.
The alleged incidents included the “harassment of an Iranian oil tanker” in the Strait of Hormuz and an attack on a telecommunications facility on Qeshm Island.
According to the ministry, the operations were launched from the territory of two unnamed regional countries. It described the U.S. military as a “terrorist army” engaged in efforts to destabilize Iran.
“These aggressive actions are not only a violation of the ceasefire understanding dated April 8, but also constitute a flagrant violation of the fundamental principle prohibiting the use of force under Article 2(4) of the United Nations Charter and international law,” the statement said.
Tehran also criticized what it called the United States’ “colonial use” of regional territory and infrastructure to conduct operations against Iran. The ministry placed responsibility on governments it claimed had enabled such actions, specifically naming Kuwait and Bahrain.
The statement asserted that allowing any foreign power to use a country’s land, territorial waters, airspace, or military facilities to support attacks against Iran violates international law and the principle of good neighborliness. It further referenced UN General Assembly Resolution 3314, arguing that such cooperation could amount to an act of aggression.
Reaffirming Iran’s position, the ministry said the country would exercise its rights under international law to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“In exercising its inherent right to defend its territorial integrity, Iran will utilize all capacities to counter aggressive actions,” the statement said, adding that any response could include action against the source of such attacks.
The ministry further warned that full responsibility for the consequences would rest with what it described as the “American-Zionist aggressors” and any parties facilitating military operations against Iran.
The remarks come amid rising regional tensions and renewed exchanges of accusations between Tehran and Washington following a series of maritime and aerial incidents in the Gulf.
Earlier on Wednesday, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that it had conducted a series of naval and aerial operations against U.S. forces and a commercial vessel in the Gulf region, describing the actions as retaliation for recent American strikes against Iranian interests near the Strait of Hormuz.
In a separate statement, the IRGC said the latest escalation began late Tuesday after what it alleged was a U.S. missile strike on an Iranian oil tanker near the strategic waterway.
According to the IRGC, the attack damaged the vessel’s engine compartment but did not sink the ship.
