Iran on Thursday sharply criticised the United States over alleged violations of a ceasefire agreement, accusing Washington of launching attacks on Iranian territory and targeting commercial shipping, according to Iranian media outlet Fars News Agency. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said the reported US actions, including an alleged strike near Bandar Abbas and aerial attacks in southern Iran, amounted to a breach of international law and Iran’s sovereignty.

Quoted by Fars, Baghaei stated that “aggressive acts against Iran’s territorial integrity and national sovereignty are a blatant violation of international law and the United Nations Charter.” He further asserted that the UN Security Council must carry out its legal duty by holding the United States accountable for the alleged aggression.

Referring to what Iran described as repeated ceasefire breaches since April 19, Baghaei accused the US of attacking commercial vessels in the Persian Gulf and international waters, along with carrying out recent airstrikes in southern Iran. Reiterating Tehran’s stance on self-defence, he said Iran was prepared to take all necessary steps to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity under Article 51 of the UN Charter.

According to ISNA news agency, Baghaei also criticised the threatening remarks made by American officials and voiced support for Oman after former US President Donald Trump reportedly warned he would “blow up” the country. Baghaei said threatening a UN member state like Oman, which has long played a constructive mediating role in regional peace and diplomacy, violates the principle prohibiting the threat or use of force and reflects a growing trend of “lawlessness and bullying” in international relations.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed it launched retaliatory strikes on an American base after aerial projectiles struck the outskirts of Bandar Abbas Airport, according to Tasnim News Agency. The IRGC said in a statement that following the alleged pre-dawn American attack near the airport, the US airbase identified as the source of the aggression was targeted at 4:50 a.m. The escalation followed reports of an exchange of fire between Iranian and US forces near the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian media claimed Tehran’s naval forces confronted vessels attempting to pass through the strategic waterway without coordination.

Tasnim, citing an unnamed military source, reported that the IRGC navy fired on a US tanker allegedly attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz with its radar system switched off. The report added that US forces responded by firing at an area near Bandar Abbas. CBS News reported that the US military carried out another round of strikes on Iran on Wednesday, describing the actions as defensive measures intended to preserve a fragile ceasefire. According to the report, US forces intercepted four Iranian drones and struck a drone control station in Bandar Abbas that was reportedly preparing to launch a fifth drone.

A US official told CBS News that the actions were “measured” and “purely defensive,” adding that despite the latest clashes, the ceasefire between Washington and Tehran was still considered intact. Trump on Wednesday reiterated his commitment to securing a favourable ceasefire agreement with Iran, saying he “won’t be outlasted” and was unconcerned about upcoming midterm elections. He also warned Oman against interfering in negotiations over the Strait of Hormuz and rejected proposals for a short-term agreement that would allow Iran and Oman to influence control over the crucial global oil and gas shipping route.