Iran says it will not close Strait of Hormuz

Amir Saeid Iravani, Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, said Iran does not plan to shut the Strait of Hormuz, though he stressed Tehran’s right to safeguard the strategic waterway.

Speaking to reporters at the UN, Iravani addressed remarks by Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who said earlier that the “lever of blocking the Strait of Hormuz must continue to be used”.

“We are not going to close the Strait of Hormuz,” Iravani said. “But it is our inherent right to preserve the peace and security in this waterway.”

In prepared remarks, he added that Iran remains committed to international maritime law.
“Iran fully respects and remains committed to the principle of freedom of navigation under the law of the sea,” he said.

Iravani blamed the current tensions in the Gulf on US actions, saying instability in the region stems from “the destabilising actions of the United States in launching aggression against Iran and undermining regional security”.