Iran MP praises attack on US base in Qatar

US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz on Sunday rejected a claim by an unnamed US official cited by CNN that Iran had mistakenly targeted commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, saying the latest attack showed otherwise.

“Are we supposed to believe that some junior officers are going rogue and firing on ships, but yet face no consequences from a dictatorial hierarchy-based entity like the IRGC? I don’t buy it,” Waltz told ABC.

The unnamed US official told CNN on Friday that Iran had acknowledged in communications with Washington that earlier strikes on merchant ships were a mistake. US Central Command said, however, that Iran “blatantly attacked” another vessel in the Strait on Saturday.

Waltz accused Iran of violating international law by attacking neighboring countries, civilian shipping and infrastructure, but said technical talks between Tehran and Washington were continuing despite Iran’s leadership being “incredibly difficult to deal with.”

Pakistan on Sunday urged Iran and the United States to exercise restraint, take immediate steps toward de-escalation and uphold their commitments under the Islamabad memorandum of understanding, its Foreign Ministry said.

“Pakistan is following with deep concern the recent incidents that are further escalating the regional tensions,” the ministry said.

“Pakistan remains committed to providing all support towards achieving lasting peace and stability in the region through dialogue and diplomacy,” it added.

US President Donald Trump said Sunday that the United States had struck Iran “very hard” overnight and insisted the Strait of Hormuz remained open.

“These people, there’s something wrong with them … We had a deal with them yesterday,” Trump told CNN. “They were giving up everything, and then all of the sudden, two hours after that, they hit a ship with a drone.”

The Strait of Hormuz is “open as far as we’re concerned,” Trump added

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that US President Donald Trump was “not shy of using force” when Iran breaks its commitments, while still seeking to test the chance of a negotiated nuclear agreement.

“I think President Trump wants to exhaust the possibility of achieving an agreement, especially on the nuclear issue, through negotiations,” Netanyahu told NBC News in an interview about the death of US Senator Lindsey Graham. “But he is obviously not shy of using force when the Iranians break every commitment they make.”

Netanyahu said Graham had urged action against Iran’s nuclear program, describing him as a fearless supporter of Israel and a critic of Tehran.

“He came to me and said, Bibi, you have to do it. You have to knock out this nuclear weapons program before they knock us out,” Netanyahu said.

US Central Command on Sunday rejected an Iranian commander’s claim that foreign vessels could not pass through the Strait of Hormuz without being identified, tracked and monitored by Iran’s forces.

CENTCOM said Iran did not control the Strait of Hormuz and that it remained an international waterway.

It said US forces were positioned and prepared to keep the waterway open.