Respect for Iran’s rights key to sustainable stability in Hormuz Strait: Envoy

The Iranian ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations says sustainable stability in the Strait of Hormuz is only possible through full respect for Iran’s inalienable rights and interests.

Amir-Saeid Iravani made the remarks in a statement delivered during a UN General Assembly meeting on Thursday, three days after the US said that it had imposed a “naval blockade” on the Strait of Hormuz aimed at forcing Iran to reopen the strategic waterway that has been shut down to the country’s enemies following the launch of the illegal US-Israeli aggression.

“The realization of the principles of freedom of navigation and maritime safety in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman—particularly in the Strait of Hormuz, which lies within the territorial seas of its coastal States—is only possible through full respect for the sovereignty and sovereign rights of those coastal States,” he said.

“As such, sustainable stability in the Strait of Hormuz and in the region can only be achieved through the cessation of aggression and the full respect for Iran’s legitimate rights and interests.”

Iravani also warned that the United States’ unlawful actions in the region escalate tensions and threaten both maritime security and international trade.

He further stressed that the imposition of a maritime blockade announced by the United States constitutes a grave violation of Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

“This unlawful action is a flagrant breach of the prohibition on the threat or use of force enshrined in Article 2(4) of the UN Charter and constitutes a clear act of aggression under international law,” he added.

“By seeking to obstruct maritime traffic to and from Iranian ports, the United States unlawfully interferes with the exercise of the sovereign rights of the Islamic Republic of Iran and infringes upon the rights of third States and lawful maritime commerce under international law.”

Meanwhile, the envoy emphasized that the Islamic Republic has consistently upheld freedom of navigation and maritime security in the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Gulf of Oman.

For decades, he said, Iran has fulfilled its responsibilities in good faith as a coastal state of the Strait of Hormuz and ensured security and freedom of navigation in the strategic waterway.

Iran’s precautionary measures in the Strait of Hormuz are meant to facilitate the continuous and safe passage of vessels, while preventing the exploitation of this waterway for hostile or military purposes by aggressors and their affiliates, according to Iravani.

The unprovoked US-Israeli aggression on Iran began on February 28 with airstrikes that assassinated senior Iranian officials and commanders.

The Iranian armed forces unleashed 100 waves of successful retaliatory strikes against sensitive and strategic American and Israeli targets throughout the region.

They also blocked the Strait of Hormuz to vessels affiliated with the adversaries and those cooperating with them in an attempt to maintain security at the critical waterway.

After 40 days of unrelenting US-Israeli attacks, the US formally accepted Iran’s 10-point proposal on April 8 as the foundation for a ceasefire.

On April 12, Iranian and American delegations held talks in Pakistan, but failed to reach an agreement. The following day, the US announced the so-called “naval blockade” on the Strait of Hormuz.

Additionally, in his statement, the Iranian envoy said that during the 40-day military assault, the US and the Israeli regime crossed every legal, moral, and humanitarian boundary, violated international humanitarian law, and committed war crimes by deliberately and indiscriminately targeting civilian infrastructure.

He also blasted Washington for utilizing military facilities located in the Persian Gulf Arab countries to wage attacks against the Islamic Republic.

Iran welcomes and supports any credible initiative capable of bringing about a sustainable end to the unwarranted war, including all genuine efforts through Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, China and Russia, Iravani added.

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