Iran Warns Against Foreign Military Presence in Strait of Hormuz

Tehran - Iran has warned that the Strait of Hormuz should not become a stage for military deployments by countries outside the region, asserting that responsibility for the security of the vital shipping route rests with Iran and Oman.

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs, Kazem Gharibabadi, said on social media platform X that Iran, as a guarantor of security in the strait, opposes any foreign military activity in the sensitive waterway.

He maintained that safeguarding the strait is solely the responsibility of Iran and Oman, rejecting a joint statement issued on Friday by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron.

In their statement, Starmer and Macron described the Strait of Hormuz as a crucial artery for the global economy and said restoring safe passage for vessels of all nations is a matter of international concern. They added that Oman had agreed to work with Britain and France to ensure safe navigation in its territorial waters, while both countries were prepared to deploy a broader multinational military mission to help protect freedom of navigation in the area.

Meanwhile, Iran's semi-official Fars News Agency reported, citing maritime tracking data, that eight vessels attempting to pass through the waterway along Oman's coastline were turned back on Saturday.

According to a report by Bloomberg, several ships reached the tip of the Musandam Peninsula before abruptly reversing course. One crude oil tanker, two product tankers and one bulk carrier later headed north on an outbound route after receiving directions from Iranian authorities.

Iran has maintained tighter control over the Strait of Hormuz since February 28, when it restricted the passage of vessels linked to Israel and the United States following joint military strikes on Iranian territory.

With inputs from IANS