French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said on Thursday that the recent US strikes on Iran came as a result of Tehran's violation of its 'obligations' after targeting ships in Omani waters.

Barrot added, in a statement to French channel TF1, in response to a question about the legitimacy of the US strikes carried out on Wednesday night-Thursday, that 'Iran, by targeting ships sailing in Omani waters, violated its obligations' undertaken in the recent memorandum of understanding with Washington, in addition to 'violating international law'.

Barrot said that 'Iran violated the agreement concluded with the United States' last month, stressing the need for 'this kind of maneuver to stop immediately', to allow the resumption of 'these crucial negotiations under the best possible conditions'.

The United States launched new strikes on Iran on Wednesday night-Thursday, in an attempt to limit Tehran's control over the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

In response, the Iranian Armed Forces announced on Thursday that they had attacked targets in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar in retaliation for the US strikes.

The memorandum of understanding signed between the United States and Iran on June 17 allowed for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 20% of the world's crude oil and liquefied natural gas typically passes.

After reaching this memorandum, Washington and Tehran resumed arduous negotiations aimed at reaching a permanent solution to the conflict, which erupted on February 28 last following a joint Israeli-American attack on Iran.

But US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday, after an intense exchange of strikes, that the ceasefire was no longer in effect, while also affirming that the new clashes 'will end quickly'.

Tehran insists that it has the right to impose fees on ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for global fuel trade, and which is the focal point of current tensions. However, Washington rejects this.

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