ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The United Nations on Wednesday stressed the importance of maritime freedom and the protection of the political rights of the Iranian Kurdish opposition groups.
In response to a question from Rudaw’s Namo Abdulla regarding on the latest developments, Farhan Haq, deputy spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Gueterres, addressed reports that Tehran is seeking to impose fees on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, an unprecedented move following the US-Iran ceasefire.
“The talks concerning strengthening the ceasefire are still happening. We hope that the ceasefire will be stabilized and will last beyond two weeks. So that is our current priority,” he said.
The UN top official added, “Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, we've repeatedly said, and this is the Secretary-General's point of principle, that there needs to be freedom of movement for all marine vessels.”
Haq’s remarks come after Iran reportedly blocked vessel passage through the strategic waterway, after Israel on Wednesday said its forces targeted “more than 100 Hezbollah headquarters, military arrays, and command-and-control centers in Beirut, the Beqaa Valley, and southern Lebanon.”
Beirut condemned the attacks with its health ministry reporting late Wednesday that Israeli strikes had caused “182 deaths and 890 injuries,” mostly civilians, according to preliminary figures.
For its part, Tehran has labelled the Israeli strikes in Lebanon a violation of the ongoing ceasefire with the United States, which it insists “includes Lebanon” - a claim Tel Aviv and Washington have contested.