Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned early Wednesday that any attack or threat against Iran would be met with a response, after US strikes hit southern parts of the country amid rising tensions around the Strait of Hormuz.
In a post on X, Araghchi said the United States had “opted to test our determination” despite what he called its defeats on the battlefield.
“Our powerful armed forces will leave no attack or threat unanswered,” he said, warning Washington to “leave our region if you want to be safe.”
He added that the “history of the Persian Gulf has many chapters on dire fates of intruding outsiders.”
Despite its defeats on the battlefield, the U.S. opted to test our determination.
— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) June 9, 2026
Our Powerful Armed Forces will leave no attack or threat unanswered.
Leave our region if you want to be safe.
History of the Persian Gulf has many chapters on dire fates of intruding outsiders. pic.twitter.com/O17GGtklxA
Explosions reported across southern Iran
Earlier, Iranian media reported explosions and projectile strikes in Qeshm Island, Sirik, Minab and Jask in southern Hormozgan province.
Air defenses were also activated in Bandar Abbas, Qeshm and Sirik. Iranian state TV later said the wave of reported attacks had subsided and the situation had become “nearly calm.”
Also Read: Iran targets US bases in Jordan, Gulf after fresh strikes
Reports also said US missile strikes destroyed two strategic water tanks in Sirik county, cutting drinking water to several villages.
CENTCOM says strikes were self-defense
The developments came after the US Central Command announced that American forces had launched “self-defense” strikes against Iran.
CENTCOM said the strikes were carried out in response to the downing of a US Army Apache helicopter in a previous incident.
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) June 10, 2026
The latest escalation comes amid heightened tensions in the 2026 Iran war, which began earlier this year with joint US-Israeli strikes on Iranian military, nuclear and leadership targets.
Iran says has right to respond
Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Command said army and IRGC forces had struck US bases in the region in retaliation for what it called American military aggression in southern Iran.
Araghchi also held separate late-night phone calls with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan.
The calls, held in the early hours of Wednesday, focused on the rapidly evolving regional security situation following the US military strikes.
Also Read: US launches new strikes on Iran
During both conversations, Araghchi condemned the American attacks as a violation of Iran’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity. He stressed Iran’s inherent right to self-defense and defended the legitimacy of the retaliatory response by Iranian armed forces.
Tehran denies deliberately targeting helicopter
Separately, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi denied that Iran deliberately targeted the US Apache helicopter that crashed in the Strait of Hormuz.
Speaking to Al Jazeera, Gharibabadi said Iran was “not behind the attack” and that no deliberate action had been taken against the aircraft.
He said the situation in the Strait of Hormuz remained highly sensitive and warned that rising tensions could lead to unexpected incidents. However, he rejected the accusation that Iran had intentionally targeted the helicopter.
Also Read: Iran advises foreign forces in proximity to leave
The renewed exchange has placed further strain on a fragile ceasefire that has repeatedly been tested by tit-for-tat actions.
The conflict has included US strikes on Iranian sites in response to alleged threats to maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy corridors.
With both sides issuing warnings and regional powers seeking updates, the latest escalation has raised fresh concerns over the risk of a wider confrontation in the Persian Gulf.
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