Iran has condemned the US attack on one of its ships “Armed Piracy,” Warning of retaliation.
On Sunday, a US warship fired on an Iranian-flagged cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman and later seized it. The military said the ship, identified as Touska, was attempting to break the naval blockade and sail through the Strait of Hormuz towards Bandar Abbas.
In a statement issued soon after, Iran’s military command center, Khatam al-Anbiya, condemned the attack on a ship returning from China, and accused Washington of violating a ceasefire in place since April 8.
“We warn that Iran’s armed forces will soon respond and retaliate against this armed robbery and U.S. forces.” a spokesman for the command center was quoted as saying by ISNA news agency.
US President Donald Trump last week announced a blockade of Iranian ports after Pakistani-brokered talks failed.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghai said the US blockade of Iran’s ports and coastline is an act of aggression that violates the ceasefire.
“The deliberate infliction of mass punishment on the Iranian population amounts to a war crime and a crime against humanity,” Baghai said on social media.
Baghai’s comments on Sunday followed renewed Iranian threats to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz in response to the US blockade, effectively closing the strategic route again, which handles about 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas trade.
Iran’s Tasnim news agency later reported that Iranian forces launched drones toward US naval vessels. The Pentagon has not confirmed whether any ships came under attack.
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