Iran says latest US strikes “rendered futile” months of diplomatic efforts

Iran strongly condemned the latest US strikes on its territory late on Sunday, accusing Washington of derailing all diplomatic efforts made in recent months to reduce tensions in the region, according to a statement from the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

Tehran also accused the United States of blatantly violating all provisions of a memorandum of understanding signed in June and of causing renewed insecurity in the Strait of Hormuz and disrupting international commercial shipping, according to the statement.

The Foreign Ministry said Washington had violated almost all provisions of the memorandum of understanding signed between the two countries just 25 days ago by carrying out attacks on Iran’s transport infrastructure.

According to the statement, the US strikes targeted key facilities in southern Iran, including Sirik Commercial Port, Chabahar Port, weather monitoring stations, fishing piers and shipping containers.

The ministry also said the bombing hit a railway bridge in Khorasan Province, suspending train services and disrupting the travel of people attending the funeral of Iran’s late Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. It described the attack as “one of the most horrific war crimes committed by Washington against the Iranian people”.

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The statement said “The US regime has also caused the return of insecurity in the Strait of Hormuz and disruption of international commercial shipping by openly interfering in the process of Iran implementing the necessary arrangements in the Strait of Hormuz.”

The Foreign Ministry added that the US military, by using the territory and facilities of countries on the southern coast of the Gulf to prepare its military attacks against Iran, had effectively turned those countries into a battlefield for what it described as its “illegal and criminal war” against the Iranian people.

The statement said Iran, “in exercising its legitimate right to self-defence”, would respond to any attack “at any level and scale” in accordance with international law. It added that the United States cannot achieve its objectives through these terrorist attacks because the Iranian people have repeatedly demonstrated throughout history their ability to withstand the strongest and most aggressive powers.

The Foreign Ministry concluded by saying that the continued US attacks mean Iran is no longer obliged to adhere to the memorandum of understanding. It stressed that Tehran would remain committed to the agreement as long as the other side honours it, but would not accept violations of its provisions or “tolerate the continuation of hostile acts”.

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