ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iran has “the legitimate and legal right” to respond to what it considers “security threats” in the Strait of Hormuz, Tehran’s permanent mission to the United Nations stated on Tuesday, further blaming the United States for “any disruption” to maritime transport in the key waterway and wider Gulf waters. The remarks came a day after dozens of diplomats gathered at the UN, calling for the reopening of the critical chokepoint.
In a statement on X, the mission said, as “the main coastal state” bordering the Strait, “Iran has the legitimate and legal right to take necessary and proportionate measures to address emerging security threats, ensure safe navigation, and prevent the misuse of the Strait of Hormuz for hostile or military purposes.”
It added that “any disruption to maritime transport in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, and its consequences, lie with the U.S., whose unlawful actions endanger international navigation.
The statement further said that “lasting stability and security in the Persian Gulf and the wider region can only be achieved through a durable and permanent cessation of aggression against Iran, supplemented by credible guarantees of non-recurrence, and full respect for the legitimate sovereign rights and interests of Iran.”
The US and Israel launched a wide-scale air campaign against Iran on February 28, targeting more than 17,000 sites across the country over six weeks of hostilities. In response, Tehran carried out drone and missile strikes across the Middle East, targeting alleged US assets - particularly in Gulf Arab states - as well as launching retaliatory attacks against Israel.