[Iran condemns the U.S.’s illegal attack on its ships] On the 5th local time, Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement, strongly condemning the U.S.’s aggressive behavior of attacking Iranian merchant ships in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman that day. The statement stated that these illegal acts of aggression are a continuation of the U.S. military aggression against Iran and are part of the regime's naval blockade and economic war against Iran. They are a clear violation of the United Nations Charter, constitute war crimes, and pose a clear threat to international peace and commercial shipping security. Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that Iran resolutely defends its national sovereignty and interests and opposes "state terrorism" and acts of aggression by the United States, including the continued maritime blockade, economic warfare, and attacks on merchant ships against Iran. (CCTV News)