Any ‘provocative act’ in Strait of Hormuz will further complicate situation: Iran FM

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi of Iran has warned that any act of provocation by the aggressors and their supporters, including at the United Nations Security Council, regarding the Strait of Hormuz will only lead to further complications of the situation.

In a phone conversation with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot on Monday, Araghchi said the military aggression by the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran is the root cause of insecurity in the Strait of Hormuz.

“This waterway is closed to vessels belonging to the parties involved in the military aggression against Iran, and the decision has been made in accordance with the principles of international law to prevent the aggressors from exploiting the Strait of Hormuz to carry out unlawful attacks against Iran.”

“The passage of vessels belonging to other countries is underway in coordination with competent Iranian authorities,” the Iranian foreign minister said.

The United States and the Israeli regime launched a large-scale unprovoked aggression against Iran by assassinating the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, along with several senior military commanders, on February 28.

Iran has carried out extensive and decisive retaliatory attacks on US assets in the region and on locations in the Israeli-occupied territories since the very first day of the US-Israeli aggression. Iran has also taken full control of transit through the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf, pushing up international energy and commodity prices.

The Iranian foreign minister outlined the crimes committed by the United States and the Israeli regime during the current military aggression.

Araghchi censured positions taken by certain European countries in merely expressing concern over the economic consequences of the imposed war while remaining silent on the brutal attacks by the aggressors against the Iranian people.

He reiterated Iran’s determination to continue its defensive operations against the aggressors, including attacks on their military bases and facilities stationed in the region.

“The reason behind Iran’s defensive operations in the region is the use of the US from the territory, bases, and facilities based in these countries to conduct an illegal war against Iran.”

The French foreign minister, for his part, reaffirmed his country’s opposition to the imposed war against Iran and attacks on non-military targets.

Barrot also expressed concern over the exacerbation of tensions in the region, including in Lebanon, and underscored the need to strengthen political and diplomatic efforts to find a solution to end the war and restore stability and security to the region.

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