Iran Accuses United States of War Crime After Rescue Boat Strikes

The Government of Iran formally accused the United States of committing a war crime after the Naji-15 and Naji-16, two search-and-rescue vessels, were struck in the Persian Gulf. According to a letter from Gholamhossein Darzi, Iran's deputy envoy to the UN, the attacks occurred in the early hours of Thursday off the coast of Hormozgan Province while the vessels were engaged in rescue duties.

These incidents follow a series of US-Israeli operations against Iran that began on February 28, which include a US blockade of Iranian ports. United States Central Command stated its forces are targeting Iranian maritime capabilities and missile facilities to protect civilian shipping, though US officials have not specifically addressed the allegations regarding the rescue boats.

Separately, President Donald Trump recently suspended nightly bombing strikes on Iran. Reports on the reasoning for this pause vary, with some sources citing a shift toward diplomacy and others pointing to a shortage of air defense missiles at the Pentagon.