Iran condemns US ceasefire violations after strikes on Bandar Abbas

Iran's foreign ministry condemned US strikes on the southern port city of Bandar Abbas on Thursday as a violation of the April ceasefire, and expressed solidarity with Oman after President Donald Trump threatened to "blow them up."

The ministry said Iran would take all necessary measures to defend its national sovereignty. The exchanges mark the most serious escalation between the two sides since the ceasefire took hold.

Did the US violate the ceasefire with its strikes on Iran?

Iran says yes. Foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei called the strikes a ceasefire violation and condemned what he described as "the threatening rhetoric of American officials against Iran and several regional countries." Washington defended the action as self-defense. The strikes targeted a ground control station near Bandar Abbas, according to a US official speaking on condition of anonymity to AFP.

The confrontation began after Iranian forces opened fire on four vessels attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian state broadcaster IRIB. US forces then struck the ground control station near Bandar Abbas in response. Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they subsequently targeted the American base from which the attack had originated.

What did Iran's Revolutionary Guards say about the strikes?

The Guards said in a statement carried by IRIB that they struck the American air base at 4:50 a.m. local time (0120 GMT), following what they described as an aerial attack on a location near Bandar Abbas Airport.

The Guards did not disclose the location of the targeted base. Kuwait's military separately said its air defenses had intercepted what it described as an "enemy" attack early Thursday.

How have the strikes affected diplomatic efforts?

The renewed hostilities have cast doubt on fragile talks aimed at securing a broader peace agreement and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route and a central issue in negotiations.

The conflict began on February 28 with US-Israeli strikes on Iran. Indirect negotiations have continued through Pakistani mediation, with neither side showing willingness to compromise on the Strait or Tehran's nuclear program.

Oil prices rose on Thursday after reports of the strikes, reversing sharp losses from the previous session driven by optimism over a possible diplomatic breakthrough. The US Treasury on Wednesday also imposed sanctions on Iran's Persian Gulf Strait Authority, a body responsible for collecting transit fees from vessels crossing Hormuz.

On Wednesday, the Revolutionary Guards' navy warned that only ships willing to abide by Iranian rules would be permitted through the waterway.

What did Trump say about Oman and the Strait of Hormuz?

Trump appeared to warn Oman, a key US ally and mediator in the conflict, when asked about a possible arrangement under which Iran and Oman would jointly oversee the Strait of Hormuz. "No, the strait is going to be open to everybody," Trump said. "It's international waters and Oman will behave just like everybody else or we'll have to blow them up." The White House did not immediately clarify the remarks. Oman has played a central mediation role throughout the conflict and has itself faced attacks linked to regional tensions.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said this week that a deal remained possible but added that the strait would reopen "one way or the other." Tehran has insisted that any peace agreement must also address the situation in Lebanon, where an April 17 ceasefire has failed to halt clashes between Israel and Hezbollah. The group entered the conflict in March following the killing of Iran's supreme leader.

What is happening in Lebanon?

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed earlier this week to "crush" Hezbollah, while military chief Lieutenant Colonel Eyal Zamir said Israel was intensifying operations against the group. Israel carried out strikes on the southern Lebanese city of Tyre after warning it would act against Hezbollah and declaring areas south of the Zahrani River, around 40 kilometers from the Israeli border, as combat zones.

After Israeli evacuation warnings covering large parts of southern Lebanon, many residents fled toward Tyre, according to AFP journalists.

How are Iranians experiencing the conflict at home?

Iranian authorities this week partially restored access to the global internet following a three-month shutdown imposed during the conflict.

"I do feel better now because I finally can use my favorite applications," said Hana, a 20-year-old student in Tehran who declined to give her full name. "At the same time, I have this concern that war might resume any minute and just cut me off again from my friends."

Amir, a 27-year-old software developer in Tehran, said uncertainty continued to define daily life. "I feel like nothing is certain yet," he said. "The daily question is: Will there be missile strikes tonight?"