Iran condemns US strike in south, warns of ceasefire violations

Flagrant violation

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei on Thursday condemned a US strike near Bandar Abbas in southern Iran as a flagrant violation of international law, accusing Washington of repeatedly breaching the April 8 ceasefire. Baghaei said the attack carried out in the early hours of Thursday represented a clear breach of the UN Charter and international legal norms, stressing that the UN Security Council was obligated to hold the US accountable for what he described as aggression against Iran's territorial integrity and national sovereignty.

Retaliatory exchange

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps responded to the US attack by targeting a US airbase in Kuwait, according to Iran's semi-official Tasnim News Agency, with the retaliation coming hours after US aerial projectiles allegedly struck an area near Bandar Abbas Airport. A US official told Anadolu that American forces had shot down four Iranian drones near the Strait of Hormuz and struck an Iranian ground control station allegedly preparing to launch another drone. The official described the actions as measured and purely defensive, saying they were intended to maintain the ceasefire.

Regional tensions

Baghaei also condemned threatening rhetoric by US officials against Iran and several regional countries, expressing solidarity with Oman. He said threats against the sultanate — which has played a constructive role in regional peace efforts — represented a dangerous normalization of lawlessness in international relations.

The spokesperson stressed Iran's determination to take all necessary measures to defend its sovereignty under Article 51 of the UN Charter. The latest exchange comes amid ongoing efforts to reach a broader agreement following the war that erupted on Feb. 28, when the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran.