Iran Issues Stern Warning Over Strait of Hormuz
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi has issued a strong warning that the Strait of Hormuz is not a theatre for the military display of extra-regional powers. The statement came in response to a joint declaration by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron regarding the strategic waterway.
In a post on X, Gharibabadi declared, "The Strait of Hormuz is not a theater for the military display of extra-regional powers. Iran, as the responsible power and guarantor of the Strait's security, warns with sensitivity to any military movement in this waterway. The security of Hormuz lies with the coastal states; the crisis-makers will be held accountable for the consequences of their adventurism; this is a serious warning."
Joint UK-France-Oman Statement on Navigation Safety
The joint statement from the UK and France noted that Oman has agreed to collaborate with them to ensure the safety of navigation in its sovereign territorial waters. The statement emphasized that the Strait of Hormuz is a vital artery for the global economy and that restoring safe transit for ships of all nations is a matter of global concern.
"The Sultanate of Oman has agreed to work with the United Kingdom and France to ensure that its sovereign territorial waters are safe for navigation," the statement read. It further added, "The UK and France also stand ready to deploy the wider Multinational Military Mission to support freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz." The two countries reaffirmed their commitment to regional stability, respect for state sovereignty, and close cooperation with partners to uphold global security, freedom of navigation, and international law.
Iran Rejects US-Led Security Summit in Bahrain
Earlier on July 2, Iran strongly criticized a US-led regional security summit in Bahrain, rejecting Western attempts to dictate security frameworks in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz. Gharibabadi dismissed the legitimacy of the military summit and the authority of the US Central Command (CENTCOM), asserting that "Hormuz is defined under Iran's command, not CENTCOM." He maintained that a military summit in Bahrain cannot establish legal order and security for the Persian Gulf.
This development underscores heightened tensions in the region, with Iran positioning itself as the primary guarantor of security in the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of the world's oil passes. The Iranian warning signals that any military moves by extra-regional powers will be met with serious consequences, and crisis-makers will be held accountable.
