Iran Warns of Retaliation After U.S. Strikes on Tankers; Israel Strikes Lebanon

Iran has issued a stark warning, vowing significant retaliation against American interests in the Middle East should the U.S. persist in attacking its commercial vessels. This strong stance comes in the wake of U.S. airstrikes targeting two Iranian oil tankers in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.

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Any attack against Iranian tankers and commercial ships will have a consequence of heavy retaliation against one of the U.S. centers in the region as well as against enemy ships.

The Iranian Navy's General Staff declared that any assault on Iranian tankers would be met with a "heavy counter-response" against U.S. centers in the region, as well as against "enemy ships." General Majid Mousavi, head of the Revolutionary Guards' aerospace forces, indicated that missiles and drones are ready, awaiting orders to engage.

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Missiles and drones are targeting the enemy and we are waiting for the order to open fire.

This escalation occurs as Washington awaits Tehran's reply to its latest diplomatic overture. The U.S. military has been enforcing a blockade on Iranian ports since April 13, with CENTCOM releasing footage of the strikes on the tankers. Iran, meanwhile, has denounced these actions as a "flagrant violation" of a ceasefire, highlighting the deep chasm in diplomatic relations and the volatile security situation in the region.

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flagrant violation