Iran Declares U.S. Bases as «Legitimate Targets» and Responds with Drones and Missiles Following Washington Bombings

Original article: Irán declara “objetivos legítimos” a bases de EE.UU. y responde con drones y misiles tras bombardeos de Washington

Iran has declared U.S. military bases in the Middle East as «legitimate targets» and retaliated with drones and missiles against Washington’s bombings of southern Iran, constituting a clear violation of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard’s naval and aerospace forces struck 85 key military installations of the United States in Bandar Salman port, the Fifth Naval Zone in Bahrain, and Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait. This offensive, executed with a combination of missiles and drones, represents a direct response to what Tehran described as «repeated and glaring violations of the ceasefire» by the Trump administration.

Concurrently, the Iranian military issued a statement that dramatically alters the strategic landscape in the Middle East: all U.S. bases deployed in the region are now considered legitimate targets for their drones. This warning transforms any U.S. military installation into a potential target and clearly conveys that Tehran will not tolerate further incursions into its territory.

U.S. Offensive Triggers Iranian Response

The trigger for this escalation occurred when the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) justified its «powerful strikes» against southern Iran as a response to an alleged Iranian aggression against three commercial vessels passing through the strategic Strait of Hormuz, which handles 20% of the world’s traded oil.

According to the U.S. military statement, American forces launched missiles against Persian air defense systems, command and control networks, coastal radar stations, anti-ship missile capabilities, and more than 60 small vessels belonging to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

As reported by the network Al Mayadeen, the impact of the U.S. aggression was particularly felt in Hormozgan province. Iranian state television reported seven explosions in the city of Sirik, affecting the commercial dock and the fishing port of Zyarat village, while six other detonations shook a village on Qeshm Island. The sound of the bombings echoed in both the eastern and western sectors of Bandar Abbas, alarming the civilian population in this coastal region.

Previous Warnings and Diplomatic Condemnations

The military advisor to the Supreme Leader, Major General Mohsen Rezai, had already anticipated the breakdown of the agreement when he warned that there was evidence that the Trump administration would sabotage negotiations and violate the agreed upon terms of the Memorandum of Understanding, just as occurred with the nuclear deal.

Rezai pointed out that Washington aims to consolidate its presence in the southern Strait of Hormuz to secure the transit of its naval units, a maneuver that Tehran interprets as a direct provocation.

«The fundamental retaliation, which consists of the exit of the United States from the region, must inevitably materialize,» he stated, foreshadowing the military response that followed.

On the diplomatic front, Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the U.S. Treasury Department’s decision to cancel the temporary suspension of sanctions on Iranian oil sales, calling this measure «another indication of bad faith and instability» and a blatant violation of point 10 of the Memorandum of Understanding.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry held Washington responsible for the consequences of failing to meet its commitments and warned that it would take any necessary measures to protect its national interests and security.

Iran Will Defend Its Integrity and Sovereignty

Iran confirmed that the drone shot down in Bushehr aimed to interfere in interception and offensive operations, showcasing the technological complexity of the conflict. The Iranian attacks, which targeted key military installations in Bahrain and Kuwait, demonstrate Tehran’s power projection capabilities beyond its borders and its determination to respond decisively.

In this regard, Iran’s Foreign Ministry has made it clear that the Persian armed forces will not hesitate to safeguard national security, and that any incoming attack will be met with a direct strike against its origin and source.

«Our armed forces, in accordance with Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, will not hesitate to defend the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Iran,» the statement emphasized.

The consequences of this confrontation could extend beyond the military realm, impacting global energy supplies and the stability of an already volatile region. With both nations entrenched in their positions and Tehran declaring all U.S. bases in the region as legitimate targets, the stage is set for a prolonged confrontation.