Iran has condemned the United States’ decision to impose a maritime blockade around its ports, calling it a “grave violation of sovereignty” and warning that such actions threaten regional stability. The sharp exchange at the United Nations underscores escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran following the collapse of recent peace talks.
Iran’s ambassador to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, delivered the protest in a formal letter to Secretary General António Guterres, stressing that the blockade undermines both the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic. He argued that the move represents an unlawful act under international law and urged the UN to intervene to prevent further escalation. The statement was made during a Security Council session in New York, where Gulf states had earlier pushed for measures to safeguard shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
The United States, under President Donald Trump, has justified the blockade as a necessary step to counter Iranian influence in the strategic waterway. Washington claims that Iran has been using the Strait of Hormuz to exert pressure on global shipping and regional trade, and has warned that any Iranian fast-attack vessels approaching American warships will be destroyed.
Responses to the blockade have been mixed. Iran’s leadership insists the measure is provocative and destabilizing, while Gulf allies of the United States argue it is essential to protect international shipping lanes. Analysts caution that the blockade risks inflaming already fragile relations in the Middle East, potentially disrupting global oil supplies and undermining fragile ceasefire efforts in the region.
