Iran warns of devastating response after US strikes
Iran has warned of a devastating response after US strikes hit more than 80 targets in the country's southern regions, sharply escalating tensions in the Middle East.
According to foreign media reports, the United States carried out coordinated attacks on multiple locations, including Sirik, Bandar Abbas and Qeshm. Several military and strategic facilities were reportedly damaged, while initial reports said a number of people were injured.
The reported strikes targeted Iran's air defence systems, surveillance network, anti-ship cruise missile sites, drone facilities and boats linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The attacks have raised fresh concerns that the conflict could spread further across the region.
In a strong statement, the IRGC said Iran would never allow any US interference in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important oil shipping routes. It warned that the American attacks would receive a "full and devastating" response.
The IRGC also stressed that Iran would take every possible step to protect its national sovereignty and strengthen its defensive capabilities against any future military action.
Meanwhile, Iran's Joint Military Command described the US operation as an act of open aggression, claiming that several areas in southern Iran had come under attack. The military leadership vowed that Iran's armed forces would deliver a decisive response.
Iran further declared that only Tehran has the authority to determine safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz for commercial ships and oil tankers. It rejected any foreign involvement in managing the strategic waterway, signalling that the latest confrontation could have serious consequences for regional security and global energy markets.