Iran's Parliament Speaker Warns US Will Pay Heavy Price for Civilian Deaths

In a post on his X account, Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf denounced the US attack on civilian homes on Qeshm Island, describing it as a continuation of American crimes in the southern Iranian cities of Minab and Lamerd. "The United States stains its hands with a new crime every day. The terrorist attack on civilian homes on Qeshm Island is a continuation of its crimes in Minab and Lamerd," he emphasized. "The Americans have become accustomed to making up for the blows they suffer on the battlefield by spilling the blood of innocent people. They will pay the price," Ghalibaf warned.

Earlier on Thursday, the US launched missile strikes on several locations in southern Iran, including Qeshm Island as well as parts of Bushehr, Fars and Khuzestan provinces. The deadliest strike hit a residential house in the Chah Tangu neighborhood of Qeshm, where three members of a family—a father, a mother and their two-year-old child—were martyred. Two other children, aged seven and nine, were injured and transferred to hospital.

The strikes have drawn sharp criticism from Iranian officials, who have vowed to respond. The incident adds to the ongoing tensions between Iran and the US, which have escalated in recent months over various issues, including the nuclear program and regional conflicts.

According to Mehr News Agency, the report highlighted the civilian casualties and the strong reaction from Iran's leadership. The agency noted that the attacks on Qeshm, Minab, and Lamerd have been condemned by Iranian authorities as violations of international law and human rights.

The United States has not yet commented on the specific allegations, but the strikes are part of a broader pattern of US military actions in the region. Iran has repeatedly warned that any aggression against its territory will be met with a decisive response.

As the situation develops, the international community is closely watching the aftermath of these strikes, with concerns about further escalation. The deaths of civilians, including a young child, have heightened the emotional and political stakes in the region.