Iran has criticised reported plans by the United States to impose a blockade on its ports, warning that such a move could destabilise maritime security across the region, reported the ANI.
Officials said that if Iran’s port security is threatened, no port in the Persian Gulf region would remain safe.
According to Iranian state media, the armed forces stated that security in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman must be maintained collectively.
They stressed that defending Iran’s sovereignty in its territorial waters is both a “natural and legal duty”, adding that any threat to its ports would have wider consequences for all countries in the region.
Legal rights
According to the Iranian state media Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), citing a statement from the spokesperson for Iran`s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, maritime security in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman must be upheld collectively, adding that the armed forces of the Islamic Republic consider safeguarding the country`s rights and sovereignty in its territorial waters a “natural and legal duty”, according to the ANI.
“The Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran consider defending the legal rights of our country a natural and legal duty, and accordingly, exercising the sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the territorial waters of our country is the natural right of the Iranian nation,” the statement read, as quoted by IRIB, the news agency reported.
Strait of Hormuz in focus
Iran reiterated that it would continue to control access through the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
It warned that vessels linked to hostile entities would not be allowed passage, while others could transit under Iranian regulations. The country also indicated plans to establish a long-term mechanism to maintain control over the waterway, as per the ANI.
Iran described the proposed blockade as illegal and likened restrictions on ship movement in international waters to “piracy”.
The warning follows an announcement by the United States Central Command that it would begin enforcing restrictions on maritime traffic entering and leaving Iranian ports.
The proposed blockade
According to CENTCOM, the blockade would apply to vessels of all nations operating in and out of Iranian ports in the Gulf region.
However, it clarified that freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz for ships travelling to non-Iranian ports would not be affected. Mariners have been advised to follow official updates and maintain communication with US naval forces, the news agency reported.
(with ANI inputs)