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Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed responsibility for launching attacks on various US military installations in the Gulf region in response to recent US military strikes in Iran. The claim was made in an IRGC telegram message broadcast on state television on Saturday.
In the message, the IRGC warned that if any form of aggression recurs in the future, Iran’s response would be even harsher and more extensive.
Earlier, the US military had announced that it had struck several Iranian targets in response to an attack on a commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. Washington accused Tehran of being responsible for that ship attack.
Last week, the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the US and Iran aimed at de-escalating conflict had raised hopes for reduced tensions in the Middle East. However, the new attack in the Strait of Hormuz and the subsequent tit-for-tat military actions by both sides have once again cast uncertainty over that hope.
Approximately 20 percent of the world’s total oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) transport passes through the Strait of Hormuz. Consequently, there are fears that a renewed conflict in this region could trigger significant instability in global energy markets.
On Friday, US President Donald Trump described the attack on the Singapore-flagged commercial vessel ‘Ever Lovely’ as a “foolish violation” of the memorandum of understanding signed on June 17.
It is noteworthy that the MoU had called for a permanent cessation of military operations on various fronts, including Lebanon. This primarily laid the groundwork for suspending the conflict between the US and Israel and Iran, which began on February 28, along with Tehran’s retaliatory attacks.
However, according to analysts, this memorandum of understanding is not a final peace treaty but rather a preliminary diplomatic step taken to pave the way for future discussions.