TEHRAN, Iran — The Iranian government has fiercely condemned the United States following fresh military strikes in southern Iran, labeling the actions a “gross violation” of the fragile ceasefire established in April.
The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed it executed targeted strikes on Monday against active Iranian missile batteries and naval vessels allegedly attempting to deploy sea mines near the strategic Hormozgan province.
Okay News reports that the renewed hostilities have injected fresh uncertainty into ongoing diplomatic negotiations aimed at permanently resolving the conflict that erupted on February 28.
“Without a doubt, the Islamic Republic of Iran will not leave any evil unanswered and will not hesitate to defend the Iranian nation,” the Iranian Foreign Ministry stated, holding Washington fully responsible for the geopolitical fallout of its “aggressive and unjustified actions.”
Despite the military exchange along the coast of the Strait of Hormuz—the vital shipping chokepoint through which 20 percent of global oil supplies pass—U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio maintained that a diplomatic breakthrough remains viable, though he cautioned it would “take a few days” to materialize.
Parallel to mediation efforts led by Pakistan, a high-level Iranian delegation, including the Central Bank Governor, convened in Doha, Qatar, on Monday to hammer out terms regarding frozen foreign assets, regional maritime security, and the status of Tehran’s highly enriched uranium stockpiles.
