"They have carried out large-scale attacks and repeatedly demanded Iran's unconditional surrender. Today, around 15 days after the conflict erupted, they are seeking assistance from other nations to ensure security for the Strait of Hormuz and maintain its openness," Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on 16/3.

Araghchi's remarks followed US President Donald Trump's statement that he expected NATO to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran had almost completely blockaded. Trump also expressed hope that China would help resolve the congestion in the strait before his visit to Beijing later this month to meet President Xi Jinping.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi at a press conference in Istanbul, Turkey, in 6/2025. Photo: Reuters

"From our perspective, the Strait of Hormuz remains open; it is only closed to enemies and those who carry out unjust aggressive actions against our country," the Iranian foreign minister emphasized.

Echoing this view, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei affirmed that parties not involved in military actions against Tehran "can still pass through the Strait of Hormuz if they coordinate and receive permission from our armed forces."

He added, "No coastal nation in such a situation could allow adversary vessels to pass normally to reinforce their forces and carry out actions against that very nation," asserting that the US, Israel, and their allies "certainly cannot use the Strait of Hormuz to attack Iran."

The US president's call to deploy warships to the Strait of Hormuz met with a cautious response from allies.

Friedrich Merz's spokesperson for the German Chancellor stated that the conflict in the Middle East, stemming from US-Israel attacks on Iran, "is not related to NATO" and "is not NATO's war."

The spokesperson added, "NATO's involvement in this war was never considered before the conflict and is not being considered now."

Location of the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz. Graphic: Guardian

The same day, Iran's military warned that it would consider US Navy facilities in the Red Sea "potential targets," marking the first time Tehran had threatened Washington's military presence in this vital shipping lane.

Fars news agency quoted a statement from Iran's military: "Iran's military views the presence of the US aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford in the Red Sea as a threat to us. Therefore, Iran's armed forces will consider logistical and service support centers for the aforementioned naval group in the Red Sea as potential targets."

The Red Sea hosts many Saudi ports used for oil exports and other commercial shipping activities. Riyadh has recently increased oil exports from Yanbu and other terminals on the Red Sea coast as traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has become almost completely paralyzed.

By Vu Hoang (Source: CNN, AFP, Reuters)