Tehran, Jul 08 (V7N)- Iran's top military command has vowed to deliver a "crushing response" to recent U.S. airstrikes in southern Iran, while warning that any American interference in the management of the Strait of Hormuz will not be tolerated.

According to Reuters, Iran's Khatam al-Anbia Central Headquarters described the U.S. strikes as "blatant aggression" in an official statement, accusing Washington of violating Iran's sovereignty.

The military command said Iran's armed forces would respond decisively to the attacks, which reportedly targeted several locations in the country's southern region. It maintained that the strikes constituted a direct breach of international norms and Iran's territorial integrity.

Tehran also issued a stern warning regarding the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most strategically important maritime routes. The statement declared that any attempt by the United States to interfere in the management or security of the waterway would be unacceptable.

Iran further asserted that it would retain ultimate authority over ensuring the safe passage of commercial vessels and oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, underscoring its determination to maintain control over navigation in the region.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical artery for global energy supplies, with a significant share of the world's seaborne oil passing through the narrow waterway each day. Any escalation of military tensions in the area has the potential to disrupt international energy markets and global trade.

Relations between Tehran and Washington have deteriorated sharply in recent weeks following U.S. strikes on Iranian coastal installations, heightened security concerns involving oil tankers, and increasingly confrontational rhetoric from both sides over the strategic waterway.

The United States had not issued an immediate response to Iran's latest warning. Analysts caution that the growing military and diplomatic standoff between the two countries could further escalate instability across the Middle East.

END/SMA/AJ