Heroic Defence of Iranians against U.S Attacks
Statement on Continuation of Defense of Iran's Realm Against Unlawful Threats and Attacks of U.S
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Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran Regarding the Continuation of the Iranian People's Heroic Defense of Iran's Realm Against Unlawful Threats and Attacks by the United States
Unofficial Translation
August 1, 2026
While expressing the diplomatic apparatus's utmost praise and appreciation for the unprecedented devotion of our country's proud armed forces in forcefully and resolutely defending Iran's sovereign entity, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs pays tribute to the lofty soul of our martyred leader and all martyrs on the path of Iran's independence and honor, and emphasizes the determination of the Islamic Republic of Iran to continue the path of resistance and endurance until the complete eradication of the enemies' malice.
Under circumstances where the American enemy—continuing its breach of faith regarding the implementation of the provisions of the June 18 War Termination MoU—commits acts of aggression against Iran through the continuation of a naval blockade against Iranian ports and commercial shipping, brutal attacks against various regions of the country, intensification of economic pressures, and unlawful threats, the defensive strikes of our country's brave armed forces continue at full strength.
The continuation of the naval blockade, pursuant to the United Nations Resolution on the Definition of Aggression (Resolution 3314 of December 14, 1974), constitutes a clear instance of an "act of aggression"—alongside brutal attacks on military and non-military targets, civil infrastructure, and Iranian citizens inside and outside Iran, including in Iraq, represents a flagrant violation of Article 2, Paragraph 4 of the United Nations Charter; and the Islamic Republic of Iran will utilize all its means to exercise its inherent right of legitimate self-defense against these acts of aggression.
American acts of aggression against Iran over the past 15 months clearly meet all three characterizations of "threat to international peace and security," "breach of international peace and security," and "act of aggression", which, according to Article 39 of the United Nations Charter, obligates the UN Security Council to intervene to halt aggressive acts and hold aggressors accountable. Nevertheless, the UN Security Council—resembling its conduct during the 8-year war imposed by the Ba'athist regime of Iraq against Iran—has so far taken no effective action to fulfill its legal responsibility regarding the aggressions of the United States and the Zionist regime. Regrettably, the Secretary-General of the Organization has also taken no meaningful action in this regard, aside from a few vague and ambiguous statements.
The U.S. ruling administration, which over the past two years has spared no evil against the Iranian nation and the Muslim nations of the region to satisfy the expansionist and colonial ambitions of the genocidal and occupying Zionist regime, initially cited the threadbare lie of "preventing an Iranian nuclear bomb" as the reason for military aggression against Iran, while simultaneously putting forward ludicrous pretexts such as "countering an imminent Iranian threat" and "preemptive action in defense of Israel" to justify its crimes. Nevertheless, any sound-minded person knows that the sole reason for the U.S.-Zionist military aggression against Iran is the Iranian nation's steadfast insistence on its independence and national sovereignty, and its resistance against American excessive demands and pressure over the past half-century.
The Iranian nation does not forget that the history of American malice against the Iranian people dates back to the 1950s (1330s SH), marked by the betrayal of Iranian trust by the U.S. ruling establishment at the time, and their complicity in the criminal coup against Iran's democratically elected government to consolidate a dictatorial and oppressive regime.
The new wave of U.S. military aggression against Iran, which commenced on the evening of July 8, concurrent with the grand funeral procession for the pure body of the martyred leader, under the pretext of responding to alleged incidents involving three vessels traversing an unsafe and unauthorized passage in the Strait of Hormuz, and continues to this day, is the continuation of the very same 75-year-old enmity that has manifested itself in an overt manner over the past two years.
Using the alleged incidents involving three vessels on July 8 as a pretext to attack Iran was the pinnacle of deceit by the U.S. ruling administration and its regional accomplices to justify their breach of treaty obligations and aggression against Iran's sovereign rights in the Strait of Hormuz. The flag states of the three affected vessels, fully aware of Clause 5 of the War Termination Memorandum of Understanding, which entrusted the future management of the Strait to Iran—and while being aware of the unauthorized and unsafe nature of the U.S.-imposed passage south of the Strait of Hormuz, nonetheless attempted to navigate these three vessels through that route.
Such provocative acts, which violated Clause 5 of the Memorandum of Understanding and commenced just days after the signing of the War Termination MoU on June 18—coinciding almost exactly with the issuance of a provocative and meddlesome statement by Marco Rubio and the foreign ministers of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (dated June 25, 2026)—were repeatedly protested by Iran. The insistence of the U.S. and some of its regional partners to navigate vessels through the unsafe and unauthorized southern route was aimed not only at rendering Clause 5 of the Memorandum of Understanding ineffective and disrupting Iran's fulfillment of its commitments, but was in fact a cover for military activities and movements.
It is noteworthy that during the period from June 26 to July 8, numerous instances of U.S. naval frigates traveling alongside large crude oil or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carriers were detected. On the other hand, the terrorist U.S. military repeatedly abused commercial vessels for the transport of military personnel, equipment, and warfare apparatus. The primary reason transiting vessels traversed the southern route with their tracking transponders turned off was to evade surveillance by the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
On that very day, July 8, a warship belonging to CENTCOM navigated the unsafe and unauthorized southern passage under the cover of a giant liquefied gas carrier—an act that was not only dangerous and irresponsible regarding maritime safety, but also revealed the explicit intent of the United States to exploit the War Termination Understanding to prepare hostile actions against Iran.
The disproportionate and brutal reaction of the United States against Iran under the pretext of damage to vessels that—firstly, had no connection to the United States, and secondly, for which no evidence indicating an attack by Iran has yet been presented—together with statements by the U.S. President regarding the termination of the War Termination Understanding, the revocation of Iran's oil sales permits, and the reinstatement of a naval blockade, are all clear and undeniable indications of a pre-planned scheme by the U.S. ruling administration to breach agreements, violate Iran's sovereign rights over the Strait of Hormuz, and escalate tensions.
While condemning the brutal aggressions and crimes committed by the United States, carried out in complicity with the genocidal Zionist regime and the participation of some regional countries, including through providing their territory and facilities, the Islamic Republic of Iran emphasizes its unwavering determination to defend Iran's national rights, interests, and security.
The Islamic Republic of Iran, as it has repeatedly emphasized, holds no hostility toward the countries of the region and desires friendly relations based on mutual respect and good-neighborliness with all countries along the southern coast of the Persian Gulf. The Islamic Republic of Iran reminds all regional governments of their legal, religious, and moral duty to prevent the American-Zionist aggressors from utilizing their territories and facilities for planning, preparing, and executing criminal attacks against a neighboring Muslim nation. The Islamic Republic of Iran, furthermore, with reference to the Resolution on the Definition of Aggression (UN General Assembly Resolution 3314), points out that Iran's defensive strikes against the origins of unlawful U.S. attacks against Iran can in no way be portrayed as an Iranian attack on these countries.
Relying on the everlasting power of Almighty God and under the wise leadership of the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Khamenei, and supported by the peerless backing of the great Iranian people, the accumulated capacities of the armed forces, smart diplomacy, and the empathy and solidarity of Muslims and free-thinking people in the region and across the world, the Islamic Republic of Iran will continue its powerful defense of national dignity and independence against the brutal and unbridled assault of the American-Zionist coalition of evil.
Undoubtedly, this epic battle is not merely a defense of Iran's realm against unlawful American-Zionist aggression; rather, the Iranian nation is defending the fundamental principles of international law and shared moral and human values against two regimes that harbor ambitions of reviving brutal colonialism in the region and the world through the reliance on brute force and the colonial eradication of nations.