Iran FM warns any challenge to Tehran’s control of Hormuz will ‘increase tensions’

Iran’s foreign minister warns that any challenge to the country’s control of the strategic Strait of Hormuz will increase tensions despite ongoing negotiations to end the Middle East war.

“Any attempt to adopt new or separate arrangements compared to what is underway by the Islamic Republic of Iran, will only lead to more complicated situations and delays in the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and will increase the tensions, as we witnessed in the past two nights,” Abbas Araghchi says at a news conference on a visit to Iraqi capital Baghdad.

Tehran’s top diplomat calls on all parties to “adhere to the memorandum of understanding and not to allow this MOU to deviate from its course” after both sides traded attacks in recent days.

Iran imposed a blockade in the strait soon after the US and Israel, on February 28, launched a bombing campaign on the Islamic Republic in a bid to destabilize its regime and destroy its ballistic missile and nuclear programs. The blockade has triggered a global spike in energy prices.

Traffic through the Strait has increased since the US and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding earlier this month, but is still well below prewar levels. Iran has warned vessels not to enter or leave the Gulf through the strait without permission, but ships have continued to move, some using a route not authorized by Tehran.