Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters has warned the United States against any interference in the Strait of Hormuz, saying such actions would be regarded as a threat to Iran’s sovereignty and would trigger a “swift and decisive” response from the country’s armed forces.
“The Strait of Hormuz is not a playground for the aggressive United States, but the undisputed sovereign territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The security and stability of this vital waterway are a red line for the powerful armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” the headquarters said in a statement carried by Mizan News Agency, News.Az reports.
The statement stressed that all oil tankers and commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz must use routes designated by Iran.
“Any failure to comply with the designated routes or disregard for the navigation protocols of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the Strait of Hormuz will be met with an immediate and powerful response from the armed forces and will endanger the security of the offending vessels,” it said.
The headquarters also warned that any attempt by the United States to interfere in security matters or undertake actions disrupting the strategic waterway would be treated as a threat to Iran’s national sovereignty.
“Any attempt by the United States to interfere in security matters or carry out disruptive actions in the Strait of Hormuz will be considered a threat to Iran’s national sovereignty and will be met with a swift and decisive response,” the statement said.
It also criticised the continued presence of US military aircraft, both manned and unmanned, over the Strait of Hormuz, claiming such operations undermine the security of the waterway and threaten regional stability.
“Iran will spare no effort in defending its sovereign rights over the Strait of Hormuz and in crushing any act of encroachment or aggression by the US military and its supporters,” the headquarters added.