Tehran, Jun 27: Iran has strongly condemned the United States’ retaliatory military strikes on Iranian targets, describing them as a “reckless violation of the ceasefire” and accusing Washington of undermining diplomatic efforts to ease regional tensions.
The exchange followed US military action against Iranian missile and drone facilities after Tehran allegedly launched a drone attack on a commercial cargo vessel passing through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz. The confrontation has once again heightened security concerns across the Gulf region and raised fears of renewed military escalation.
According to Iranian officials, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targeted locations linked to US military deployments in the region as part of what Tehran described as a defensive response. Iran maintained that its actions were intended to protect its maritime interests rather than violate any existing ceasefire arrangement.
Reacting sharply to the US operation, the head of Iran’s parliamentary National Security Committee, Ebrahim Azizi, accused US President Donald Trump of abandoning diplomacy and failing to honour commitments made during recent negotiations.
In a statement posted on social media, Azizi said the US attack represented a serious breach of the ceasefire and warned that such actions would ultimately prove counterproductive. He asserted that blaming Iran would not alter the realities on the ground and insisted that Washington would face the consequences of escalating the conflict.
Meanwhile, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that American forces carried out precision strikes against Iranian missile depots, drone storage sites and coastal radar installations. According to the US military, the operation was conducted in direct response to what it described as an unprovoked Iranian attack on a commercial vessel navigating the Strait of Hormuz.
CENTCOM stated that the strikes were designed to protect freedom of navigation and deter future attacks on international shipping, emphasising that the security of one of the world’s busiest maritime trade routes remains a strategic priority.
Earlier, President Donald Trump accused Tehran of violating the ceasefire agreement by launching multiple one-way attack drones at a commercial cargo ship. According to the US President, one drone struck the vessel’s upper deck while American forces successfully intercepted three others before they could cause further damage. Despite the incident, the ship reportedly continued its voyage after sustaining limited damage.
Iran, however, rejected the US allegations and defended its position regarding security in the Strait of Hormuz. Azizi argued that Iran, as a coastal state bordering the waterway, has the authority to regulate maritime movement through the strait and insisted that foreign vessels must comply with Iranian regulations.
He further stated that Tehran’s actions should be viewed as “ceasefire management” rather than a violation of the truce, asserting that Iran remains responsible for maintaining order in the strategically significant waterway.
The Iranian official also issued a warning to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, cautioning them against relying on US military protection. He claimed that regional stability could only be achieved through greater independence from external powers and stronger cooperation among neighbouring countries.
The commercial vessel involved in Thursday’s incident, identified as the Ever Lovely, was sailing near Omani waters in the Strait of Hormuz when it came under attack. The incident reportedly disrupted ongoing United Nations efforts aimed at assisting commercial ships operating in the Gulf amid heightened regional tensions.
Iran has continued to insist that commercial vessels should obtain prior permission before entering or exiting the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran argues that such measures are necessary to ensure maritime security and preserve its sovereign rights over the strategically vital passage.
However, the proposal has been firmly rejected by the United States and Gulf nations, which maintain that the Strait of Hormuz is an international waterway where freedom of navigation must be protected under international law.
The latest exchange has further strained already fragile relations between Washington and Tehran, with diplomatic observers warning that continued military confrontations could threaten regional stability and disrupt global energy supplies passing through one of the world’s most critical shipping corridors.