Iran denounced Pentagon attacks yesterday on radar and coastal surveillance facilities in the Gulf, calling them a flagrant violation of the ceasefire in effect since April 8.
“This is a military aggression against the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic,” the Iranian Foreign Ministry said in a statement, also condemning the hostile and provocative behavior of the U.S. government.
It maintained that the Iranian military responded to Washington’s offensive in a vigilant, decisive, and proportionate manner, and asserted that the United States lacks the will to de-escalate tensions, CNN reported.
Following attacks on Iranian radar and coastal surveillance facilities in the Sirik region and on Qeshm Island, the Iranian Foreign Ministry “strongly urges countries in the region to observe the principle of good neighborliness and adhere to the fundamental principle of international law of refraining from allowing aggressors to use their territory and facilities to plan and carry out aggressive actions” against Tehran, Al Jazeera reported.
The U.S. military confirmed the operation after shooting down drones launched by Tehran toward the Strait of Hormuz, the Department of Defense reported. The military suggested that the four Iranian drones were targeting regional maritime traffic, a U.S. official told Reuters.
The Kuwaiti armed forces stated that they intercepted seven ballistic missiles that entered the country’s airspace early yesterday morning and flew over several residential areas, causing some debris to fall. They added that the Iranian offensive caused material damage but no casualties. In Bahrain, sirens sounded and residents were urged to seek shelter.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for the attacks on US bases in Kuwait and Bahrain in retaliation for attacks by Washington, and for firing on four oil tankers attempting to cross the strait without permission. The Ali Al Salem air base, which houses Pentagon forces in Kuwait, and the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet in Bahrain were attacked, according to the state news agency IRNA.
The Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry described the Iranian bombings, including the latest one yesterday, as a blatant act of aggression that threatened citizens, residents, and regional security, according to a ministry document.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemns the renewed attacks by the Islamic Republic of Iran against the Kingdom of Bahrain and Kuwait,” according to a Bahraini statement. “This blatant aggression constitutes a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of both countries,” he added.
Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi arrived in Tehran for a new round of negotiations on behalf of Washington. The semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that Naqvi is scheduled to meet with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi during his visit.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi asserted that the International Atomic Energy Agency should refrain from exerting pressure on Iran if it truly wishes to be part of a diplomatic solution regarding Tehran’s nuclear program. He criticized the agency’s director, Rafael Grossi, for failing to condemn the US and Israeli attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Source: jornada
