Iran: Strait of Hormuz remains under our full control; world should blame US for rising fuel prices

“The insecurity in the Strait of Hormuz is the result of US actions, and if the international community is concerned about rising fuel prices, it should reprimand the United States,” Esmaeil Baghaei said during a televised interview on Friday.

Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz following the launch of the latest bout of unprovoked American-Israeli aggression against the country on February 28.

The Islamic Republic and the United States agreed on a 60-day reopening period as part of a Pakistan-mediated memorandum of understanding in June.

Iran took measures to ensure safe and legal transit through the chokepoint in keeping with the understanding, but American violations forced the country to reestablish the closure.

Tehran has conditioned reopening of the waterway on realization of a number of prerequisites, including the complete lifting of the illegal US naval and economic blockade against the Islamic Republic, durable cessation of aggression on all fronts, including Lebanon, and clarification of the situation concerning the blockade of Yemen.

Baghaei reminded that the strait was completely open before February 28, but Iran subsequently took measures to safeguard its national security.

“Under these circumstances, we are entitled to take measures to protect the country’s security,” he stated.

The waterway became “somewhat safer” following the Islamabad MoU, the spokesman noted, adding that Iran honored its commitments after the understanding, while the United States violated its own commitment 23 days later.

“Their (the Americans’) pretexts [for committing the violations] had no basis,” Baghaei said.

Iran calls pending Persian Gulf ministerial meeting ‘a diplomatic achievement’

The official, meanwhile, discussed a planned meeting of foreign ministers of the Persian Gulf’s littoral states in Oman, where the Strait of Hormuz is expected to be among the issues discussed.

According to Baghaei, Iran and Oman are expected to explain the process and outcome of consultations between the two countries regarding transit through the waterway.

“It is important that your diplomacy succeeds in bringing countries to the conclusion that we should sit together and talk, particularly without the presence of extra-regional countries and others,” the official remarked.

“This is a diplomatic achievement.”

‘Time to move towards endogenous regional security’

“Everyone around the world has understood that the presence of the United States in the region does not create security,” Baghaei said.

Iran remains committed to good-neighborly relations with regional countries and has asked them not to allow their territory to be used for attacks against the Islamic Republic, the diplomat stated.

“Now is the time to talk about endogenous security,” he said. “I do not want to say that the military presence of others in the region will end tomorrow, but we must provide security for the region ourselves, and the time for that is now.”

‘Saudi Arabia, Japan to face accountability for backing anti-Iran resolution’

Baghaei also addressed the resolution recently adopted against Iran by the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Board of Governors, which has faulted the Islamic Republic’s refusal to provide access to the nuclear sites attacked during American-Israeli aggression.

“Did they not consider how Iran is supposed to provide access to the sites that have been attacked when we ourselves have been attacked?” he asked.

“This resolution demonstrates the confusion of its sponsors.”

Baghaei, meanwhile, singled out Saudi Arabia and Japan for supporting the resolution.

“There is absolutely no justification for Saudi Arabia and Japan voting in favor,” he stressed. “These countries are responsible for the consequences of this decision, and we will hold them accountable.”

‘Iran used diplomacy to repel aggressors’

The spokesman reminded that Iran remains in a state of war, citing the sanctions, the illegal naval blockade, and the other instances of pressure being employed against the country.

However, he rejected the suggestion that Iran had failed to pursue diplomacy, saying, “No one can accuse Iran of failing to use diplomacy to repel aggressors.”

“Diplomacy is not separate from the battlefield. Just as the battlefield is active in defending the country, the Foreign Ministry’s activities multiply severalfold,” he said.

‘Iran wounded but proud’

The official addressed the damages suffered by Iran during foreign aggression, but stressed, “Iran is now wounded but proud.”

“In modern times, Iran has never been this powerful, and Iran’s strength is owed to the steadfastness of the Iranian people.”

On Iran-China relations

Baghaei concluded by saying Tehran was determined to expand cooperation with Beijing.

“Relations between Iran and China have always been growing,” he said.

“We are determined to expand relations at both the bilateral and multilateral levels,” the spokesman added. “The leaders of the two countries are determined that the strategic partnership should serve to strengthen bilateral relations. We are determined to continue along this path.”