Iran to respond more forcefully to MoU violations

In a statement released following overnight strikes on at least eight US military installations and the diversion of unauthorized vessels attempting to transit the Hormuz Strait via an unconfirmed route, the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) declared that it will hit American bases harder in the coming days and deal more decisively with ships attempting to pass through the strait without authorization.

Iran has enforced restrictions on passage through the Hormuz Strait since the US and Israel attacked it on February 28—less than a year after their earlier illegal aggression against the country. Under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the US in June, Iran agreed to restore passage to previous levels within 30 days, provided that ships use only routes approved by Tehran, reports Iranian news outlet Tehran Times.

Since last week, the US has been attempting to open a parallel path through the strait, aiming to undermine Iran’s leverage in ongoing negotiations and prevent the two littoral states — Iran and Oman — from receiving compensation for the environmental and security services they have provided free of charge for decades. Iran has responded to these unauthorized attempts by firing warning shots at violating vessels. In turn, the US has breached the MoU once again and struck targets in southern Iran. The IRGC has retaliated by attacking U.S. military installations in the region.

In its statement, the IRGC announced that it returned fire for the second straight night, targeting American bases—particularly the Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain and the Ali Al Salem base in Kuwait.

"The aggressor enemy, whose very nature is defined by breaking commitments and violating agreements, attacked five coastal outposts of the Islamic Republic in the early hours today under the pretext of responding to the IRGC Navy's confrontation of a trespassing vessel [in the Strait of Hormuz]," the statement read. It added that in response, the IRGC launched an operation involving ballistic missiles and drones, successfully destroying the targeted facilities at both massive bases.

"Any future aggression by the enemy, regardless of the pretext—even if, as seen last night and tonight, it targets objectives deemed to be of minor importance—will be met with a crushing response," the statement warned.

The IRGC also cautioned that violating vessels will be handled more "firmly" in the future. It further indicated that, in response to U.S. actions, Iran may decide to withdraw from ongoing peace talks aimed at limiting its nuclear program and reopening the Hormuz Strait in exchange for the lifting of U.S. sanctions and a commitment to refrain from further attacks on Iran.

"The enemy should understand that violating the ceasefire constitutes a breach of Clause One of the Islamabad understanding and will result in the complete suspension of all related processes," the statement added.

The IRGC’s announcement came shortly after the US Central Command (CENTCOM) declared that it had carried out new acts of aggression against targets inside Iran.

Iran's Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei. Photo: Tehran Times

Iran to pursue US war crimes in int’l courts

Iran's Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei said on Sunday that Tehran is determined to pursue legal action against ‘US war crimes against the Iranian nation,’ stressing that the Judiciary, in coordination with the Foreign Ministry and other bodies, is preparing cases for international courts.

Speaking at a meeting titled "American Human Rights Week," Ejei accused Washington of combining military aggression, economic pressure and media warfare to advance its objectives, saying the United States seeks to distort facts and conceal its actions through psychological operations.

He said Iran is compiling evidence, documents, images and witness testimonies in accordance with international legal standards to support legal and criminal proceedings against those responsible. Ejei added that Iranian courts have already issued verdicts against a number of US officials and vowed that Tehran would enforce those rulings and seize the assets of convicted individuals whenever legally possible.

The judiciary chief also called for greater coordination among Iranian institutions involved in documenting and pursuing US actions, arguing that a unified approach would strengthen efforts to hold Washington accountable under international law. He further stressed that enhancing national unity, economic resilience and cultural strength remains essential to reinforcing Iran's position against external pressure.

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei. Photo: Pars Today

‘US and Israel must be brought to justice for their crimes’

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei has ordered Iran's Judiciary to pursue the prosecution of American and Zionist officials responsible for war crimes against the Iranian people, declaring that the restoration of the nation's violated rights is among the most urgent judicial matters facing the country.

In a message marking Judiciary Week, the Leader called for the perpetrators of unprecedented crimes against Iranian civilians to be held accountable in both domestic and international courts. 

In the two wars the US and Israel have launched against Iran over the past year, the two regimes have targeted thousands of civilian sites across the country. 

The Minab attack, for instance, occurred in the southern province of Hormozgan and saw a US missile strike the Shajarat Tayebah elementary school for girls, killing about 170 students and teachers. Officials have described the strike as a blatant violation of international humanitarian law, noting that the attack was carried out during school hours. 

In Lamerd, a city in Fars Province, a US missile struck the Shahid Naimi sports hall while a girls' junior volleyball team was practicing. At least 24 civilians were killed and over 130 injured, including young girls and their coach. Iranian officials have characterized the attack, carried out with a newly developed Precision Strike Missile, as a 'calculated decision' by Washington to test its weaponry on Iranian civilians.

Ayatollah Khamenei's message emphasized that the US-Israeli crimes committed in 2025 and 2026 constitute numerous legal cases that must be pursued with full seriousness. He noted that American and Israeli officials have effectively admitted to the acts, with some openly boasting of their aggression, which under international law constitutes an acknowledgment of criminal liability.

"From the blood of the innocent martyrs of the Second and Third Imposed Wars, to the physical, psychological, material, and moral damages inflicted upon our beloved country and every member of the oppressed Iranian nation at home and even abroad; from the unprecedented child-killings and war crimes in Minab and Lamerd, to attacks on medical and service centers; from the killing of newborns just days old to beloved elders—and above all, the martyrdom of the unparalleled figure, the unique jewel of the age, the great mujahid leader (may his noble station be exalted)—each constitutes a file among hundreds or even thousands of important legal cases that must be pursued with seriousness in domestic and international judicial courts," Ayatollah Khamanei wrote. "The criminals must be held by the collar and brought to justice for their criminal acts," he stated, adding that the pursuit of these cases would also serve as a deterrent against future aggression.