- No security for Persian Gulf ports if own is threatened
- Enemy-affiliated vessels won’t pass through Hormuz
- US restrictions on vessel movements are illegal and piracy
Iran has issued a warning following Trump's announcement of a naval blockade on Iranian ports, declaring that any threat to its maritime interests will result in a collapse of regional shipping safety. An Iranian Armed Forces spokesperson characterized the US strategy as a "permanent mechanism" for destabilization, asserting that if the security of Iran’s own Persian Gulf ports is compromised, no other port in the region will remain secure.
The Islamic Republic further clarified its operational stance by stating that enemy-affiliated vessels will no longer be permitted to transit the Strait. Iranian military officials emphasized that the Strait remains under their full sovereign control, and while they maintain a commitment to legitimate international trade, they will decisively block any traffic linked to those enforcing the blockade. This move is seen as a direct counter-maneuver to US Central Command’s intent to intercept ships entering or exiting Iranian coastal areas.
Iran condemned the US restrictions on vessel movements in international waters as a flagrant violation of international law, describing the blockade as a form of modern-day "piracy". They warned that these "illegal acts" would be met with a response signalling that the Iranian Navy and Revolutionary Guard are prepared to implement their own restrictive measures to defend their economic and territorial integrity.
China's Foreign Ministry urged both sides to remain calm and exercise restraint as the diplomatic efforts continue. UK PM Starmer just expressed his objection to the US blockade and reiterated that whatever the pressure, the UK won't be dragged into this war.
