In a post on X, Ghalibaf asserted that the incident follows a pattern of similar atrocities in Minab and Lamerd. Slamming US for "spilling the blood of the innocent," the diplomat vowed stern retaliation from Iran. "The United States soils its hands with a new crime every day; the terrorist attack on the residential homes of civilians on Qeshm Island is a continuation of the atrocities in Minab and Lamerd. Americans have grown accustomed to making up for the slaps they receive on the battlefield by spilling the blood of the innocent. According to the statement, the operation was carried out in response to a US airstrike on Qeshm Island on Wednesday night.