ISTANBUL: A senior Iranian lawmaker has sharply criticized the United States for carrying out military strikes during ongoing negotiations, accusing Washington of undermining diplomatic efforts and violating ceasefire commitments.
Speaking on Saturday, Ibrahim Azizi, chairman of Iran’s Parliament National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, said the latest US military action demonstrated a lack of commitment to dialogue and peaceful conflict resolution.
Azizi claimed the United States launched attacks on Iranian territory while negotiations were still underway, arguing that such actions contradicted the principles of diplomacy and eroded trust between the two sides.
He further accused Washington of breaching ceasefire understandings, warning that what he described as a reckless escalation would ultimately backfire on the United States.
“The failed US president has shown no commitment to the principles of negotiation or a ceasefire,” Azizi said, adding that the strikes would lead to “retreat and regret” for Washington.
The Iranian lawmaker also dismissed US accusations against Tehran, saying attempts to shift blame would no longer influence international opinion or alter the situation on the ground.
His remarks followed statements from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which announced that its naval forces had launched retaliatory attacks against US military positions across the region after American strikes targeted sites in southern Iran.
The escalation began after the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said late Friday that American forces had struck Iranian missile, drone, and radar facilities. Washington maintained the operation was conducted in response to an alleged Iranian-linked attack on a commercial vessel transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
The latest exchange has heightened concerns over growing instability in the Gulf region, with observers warning that continued military confrontation could jeopardize diplomatic efforts and further threaten regional security and international shipping routes.
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