Iran targets U.S. warships, then calls U.S. retaliation a “war crime”

Iran condemned U.S. attacks on its oil tankers as a “war crime” after the two sides exchanged attacks in regional waters. Tehran warned that Washington and its allies would face consequences if military action against Iran continued.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry accused the United States of conducting an ongoing military campaign that included a naval blockade and economic warfare. It said the attacks violated Article 2(4) of the U.N. Charter and threatened international peace and the security of commercial navigation.

The ministry said Iran would defend its sovereignty and national interests against what it called U.S. “state terrorism” and aggression, including attacks on commercial shipping. It warned that the United States and its allies would bear responsibility for the consequences of further military action in the region.

Earlier on Sept. 5, U.S. Central Command forces struck three Iranian crude oil carriers after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched ballistic missiles toward two U.S. Navy warships patrolling regional waters. The United States said an aircraft carrier and a guided-missile destroyer evaded multiple attacks and that no American personnel were injured.

Adm. Brad Cooper, the CENTCOM commander, said, “Let the message to the IRGC be clear: If you shoot at two of our ships, we will impose an even higher economic cost, taking out three of yours. We will not hesitate to defend American forces, and if necessary, destroy Iran’s limited and exposed oil fleet.”

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Let the message to the IRGC be clear: If you shoot at two of our ships, we will impose an even higher economic cost, taking out three of yours. We will not hesitate to defend American forces, and if necessary, destroy Iran’s limited and exposed oil fleet.