The Iranian Foreign Ministry on Thursday condemned the latest U.S. strikes against Iran, describing them as "a grave war crime."
In a statement, the ministry stressed that the U.S. strikes within the past 48 hours, carried out under the baseless pretext of responding to earlier incidents involving ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz, were in blatant violation of the United Nations Charter and a recently signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two countries on ending the war.
The ministry also accused the United States of using the strikes to justify its continued failure to abide by the ceasefire agreement.
It added that Iran is determined to punish the "aggressors" and will in no way let the U.S. government's breach of commitments, bullying, and vile conduct to undermine Iran's national rights and interests.
In a separate statement, the ministry said Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi discussed the latest regional developments with Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir in a phone call on Thursday.
Araghchi strongly condemned the recent U.S. attacks on Iran, calling them flagrant violations of the UN Charter and the MoU.
Araghchi warned against any "adventurism" by the U.S. military, reaffirming Iran's determination to defend its territorial integrity, sovereignty and national security, the statement said.
Meanwhile, the navy of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Thursday that foreign countries have no role in the Strait of Hormuz, warning that the U.S. adventurism and interference in shipping routes would trigger "a crushing response" and disrupt the gradual reopening of the waterway.
Furthermore, at the 137th session of the Council of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) on Thursday in London, an Iranian representative strongly condemned the U.S. "military aggression" against Iranian ports, coastal areas and maritime infrastructure over the past two nights, saying the strikes had endangered maritime safety and security.
The representative criticized the United States for invoking freedom of navigation while attacking maritime traffic control facilities and safety equipment established to protect vessels and seafarers.
"A state cannot credibly claim to defend maritime security while destroying the very infrastructure upon which safe navigation depends," he said.
Also on Thursday, CNN, citing regional sources, reported that Pakistan and Qatar are working to bring the United States and Iran back to the negotiating table.
However, a U.S. official told American news website Axios that the current escalation could last from a couple of days to a full month, depending on whether Iran continues its attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran condemns latest US strikes as "grave war crime"
