Iran strongly reasserted its authority over the Strait of Hormuz, declaring the vital passageway off-limits to military maneuvers by external powers. The Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs, Kazem Gharibabadi, underscored on social media that Iran, alongside Oman, holds exclusive responsibility for maintaining security in the strait, dismissing recent statements by Britain and France about joint naval efforts.
The comments responded to a joint declaration by the outgoing British Prime Minister and the French President, who called the strait a crucial global economic artery and expressed their commitment to restoring safe transit for all nations’ vessels. They mentioned Oman’s cooperation to safeguard its territorial waters and indicated readiness to deploy a multinational naval mission to protect freedom of navigation.
Iran’s stance follows a tightening of controls that began after retaliatory measures against Israeli and U.S.-linked vessels following military strikes on Iranian targets. Maritime tracking reported by Iran’s Fars news agency revealed several ships attempting to transit near Oman’s coast were turned back, with some reversing course close to the key Musandam Peninsula. Specific vessels, including crude and products tankers as well as a bulk carrier, complied with direction to reroute northward, highlighting Iran’s enforcement of its maritime claims.
This situation reflects ongoing geopolitical tensions in the strategically critical strait, through which a significant portion of the world’s oil supply passes. Iran’s warning signals a refusal to accept external military presence, insisting that regional powers alone should govern the security framework in the area.