Iran's Foreign Ministry on Wednesday strongly condemned overnight U.S. attacks on an Iranian oil tanker near the Strait of Hormuz and a communications tower on the southern Qeshm Island, describing them as acts of aggression and a violation of international law.
In a statement, the ministry said the strikes flagrantly violated an April ceasefire between Iran and the U.S., as well as the United Nations Charter's prohibition on the use of force against sovereign states.
It denounced the U.S. "colonial" use of regional countries' territories and facilities to advance "aggressive" plans against Iran, highlighting the "direct and clear" responsibility of Kuwait and Bahrain for the latest U.S. attacks.
Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) said earlier Wednesday that the U.S. military hit an Iranian oil tanker near the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday night and damaged its engine room, and also struck an IRGC communications tower on Qeshm Island.
Also on Wednesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said that any hostile action would be met with an immediate and decisive response.
The Iranian armed forces conducted defensive counterattacks within the framework of their legitimate right to self-defense to counter U.S. attacks on Iranian civilian vessels and violations of the ceasefire agreement.
Araghchi said that what sanctions and war failed to achieve won't be won with more war.
IRGC said on Wednesday its navy has targeted a U.S. destroyer in the Gulf of Oman that sought to approach Iranian territorial waters.
In a statement published by its official outlet Sepah News, the IRGC said its navy tracked U.S. "aggressive actions, violations of the regulations of the Strait of Hormuz and malicious acts against Iranian commercial vessels in the Gulf of Oman," identified the command center aboard a U.S. destroyer, and struck it.
The IRGC said its navy is closely watching U.S. and Israeli "enemies" and will respond instantly to any hostile move.
The U.S. Central Command later denied the claim on social media platform X, saying U.S. military assets at sea continue to operate "safely and unimpeded."
The latest developments came as Iran and the U.S. have, over the past weeks, reportedly exchanged several proposed plans outlining conditions for peace through Pakistan's mediation, and are working to finalize a memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the war.
Iran condemns US attacks on oil tanker, communications tower
