Top officials said that the Iranian military would have a “decisive” response to US strikes. The ceasefire between the US and Iran broke down last week, and fighting has rapidly escalated.
Iran’s top negotiator, Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf, explained that the military now has “complete freedom of action.” He added that Tehran is planning “a decisive response… at the appropriate time.” The IRGC said it was planning a “crushing response.”
The ceasefire established by the Memorandum of Understanding broke down last week. The US violated the MOU by attempting to establish a new shipping lane through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran attacked vessels attempting to use the shipping lanes, leading to US strikes inside Iran. US officials say the strikes are aimed at establishing the conditions for President Donald Trump to escalate the conflict further.
On Thursday, an Iranian official warned that further interference in the Strait of Hormuz was a “red line” that would result in “fiercer, wider-ranging and more ruinous than ever.” While Iranian officials did not provide details on how they plan to escalate the conflict, Reuters reports that Tehran is preparing its allies in Yemen to close the Red Sea to shipping. \
The MOU gave Tehran control over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, but required Iran to lift all tolls for 60 days.
