Iran warns the UK and France against what it calls “extra-regional” military presence in the Strait of Hormuz, responding to recent statements from the two European countries supporting freedom of navigation in the strategic waterway. Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi says the strait “is not a theatre for the military display of extra-regional powers” and that Iran views any foreign military movements in the area with “serious concern.”
Gharibabadi also frames Iran as the “responsible power and guarantor” of the strait’s security, adding that responsibility for security rests with the coastal states. He cautions that those he describes as “crisis-makers” would be held accountable for the consequences of any “adventurism.”
The Strait of Hormuz is a key global maritime chokepoint for energy supplies. The warning follows signals from Britain and France indicating readiness to help safeguard navigation through the strait.
