Key facts
- Iran has warned that any location used as a launch point for US attacks will be considered a 'legitimate target'.
- The warning comes after the US military announced fresh strikes on Iran, targeting transportation infrastructure, commercial shipping, and aviation facilities.
- Iran condemned these US actions as war crimes and a violation of the UN Charter.
- US officials claimed the strikes devastated Iran's nuclear program, though the extent of damage is debated.
- Oil prices saw an initial jump of over 4% amid concerns of escalating regional conflict.
Iran has issued a strong warning, declaring that any location used as a launch point for US attacks will be considered a "legitimate target." This statement comes in response to recent US strikes on Iran's transportation infrastructure, commercial shipping, and aviation facilities, which Iran's foreign ministry described as war crimes and a violation of a ceasefire agreement.
Following fresh US air strikes aimed at degrading Iran's ability to target commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran's Foreign Ministry condemned the actions as a violation of the UN Charter and a threat to international peace. Explosions were reported in several southern Iranian provinces, including Bushehr, Qeshm Island, and Jask. While Iranian state television reported no civilian casualties or damage to residential infrastructure in some areas, the IRGC claimed to have destroyed US missile launchers in a drone operation, a claim CENTCOM rejected.
Earlier, US officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and President Donald Trump, asserted that the strikes had significantly damaged Iran's nuclear program. Trump claimed a "spectacular military success" in taking Iran's "bomb" capabilities offline, though Vice President JD Vance noted Iran still possessed highly enriched uranium. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also stated that Israeli strikes were close to achieving their objective of destroying Iran's nuclear and missile capabilities.
Amidst the escalating tensions, oil prices saw an initial jump of over 4% in early Asian trading. Ali Akbar Velayati, an advisor to Iran's supreme leader, stated that bases used by US forces could be attacked in retaliation. President Masoud Pezeshkian also vowed that the United States would "receive a response." Iran also alleged that US pressure had hindered progress in recent talks in Muscat concerning the Strait of Hormuz.