Iran has issued a sharp warning over maritime security in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, accusing the United States of imposing what it called an unlawful blockade on its ports and escalating tensions in strategic waters.
In a statement released on Monday through the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters and published by state media outlets IRIB and Tasnim News Agency, Iran’s armed forces said they would respond firmly to any threats targeting its coastal infrastructure or shipping routes.
The military body said it was introducing a long-term framework to regulate movement through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil transit corridors, insisting the measures would remain in place beyond any current hostilities.
It warned that maritime stability in the region could not be selectively applied, arguing that security for Iranian ports must be matched by security for all vessels operating in nearby waters.
Iran further stated that ships linked to hostile countries or entities would be denied passage through the Strait of Hormuz, while other vessels would only be allowed entry under rules set by its armed forces.
Officials also indicated that existing controls in the narrow waterway would not be temporary, but part of an ongoing security policy aimed at safeguarding national interests.
The statement described the protection of Iran’s territorial waters as a sovereign duty, adding that the country would take what it called necessary and decisive action to defend its maritime boundaries and strategic assets.
