Iran condemns US military strikes on Iranian maritime infrastructure

Xinhua News Agency, London, July 9 (Reporter Gao Wencheng) The Iranian representative spoke at the 137th meeting of the International Maritime Organization Council on the 9th, strongly condemning the "military aggression" carried out by the United States against Iranian ports, coastal areas, and maritime infrastructure over the past two days.

The Iranian representative stated that the targets of the U.S. military strikes included the maritime traffic control tower at Iran's Chabahar Port, civilian fishing vessels, and equipment specifically used to ensure navigation safety and maritime security. This is an illegal use of force against Iran's sovereignty and territorial integrity, which "directly endangers civilian lives, the safety of seafarers, commercial shipping, and the marine environment."

The Iranian representative criticized that while the U.S. claims to uphold freedom of navigation, it simultaneously attacks maritime traffic control facilities and safety installations established to protect vessels and seafarers.

The U.S. Central Command announced on social media on the 8th Eastern Time that the U.S. military carried out further strikes against Iran that day. This follows the U.S. military's military strikes against Iran for the second consecutive day, citing a response to Iran's recent attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.