Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday issued a statement strongly condemning U.S. attacks on Iranian commercial vessels in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
Earlier in the day, Iran's state-run IRIB news agency reported that three Iranian oil tankers were attacked by the U.S. Army off Iran's southern coasts. The ministry said in the statement that the attacks have been a direct continuation of U.S. military aggression, and also, formed part of the U.S. maritime blockade and economic war against Iran.
The statement noted that the attacks clearly violate the Charter of the United Nations, constitute "war crimes," and pose an obvious threat to international peace and the safety of global commercial shipping.
The ministry emphasized that Iran will resolutely defend its national sovereignty and interests, pledging to push back against U.S. "state terrorism" and hostile acts, including the continued naval blockade, economic warfare and targets on merchant shipping.
On Saturday, Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesman for Iran's main military command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, warned the United States against continuing its attacks on Iranian vessels as well as the naval blockade against the country.
"If the malice and insecurity against and harassment of Iranian ships, as well as the anti-Iran naval blockade continue, the strikes by the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran against U.S. military vessels in the region will become more severe than before, and there is a possibility of their expansion," Zolfaghari said in a statement published by Iranian media.
Following the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran on Feb 28 this year, Iran restricted vessel passage through the Strait of Hormuz, barring ships linked to the United States or Israel, while U.S. forces imposed a naval blockade targeting vessels traveling to or from Iranian ports and coastal areas.
Iran condemns US attacks on its merchant ships, warns of harsher retaliation
