Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian declared on Thursday that any attempt to impose a naval blockade on Iran constitutes a threat to global peace and stability, warning that such actions are doomed to fail.
In a message marking the National Day of the Persian Gulf, Pezeshkian said the day serves as a valuable opportunity to reaffirm the historical truth that this waterway is an “inseparable” part of Iranians’ identity and a symbol of the nation’s resistance to both old and new colonialists.
He noted that this year’s observance comes as the US-Israeli-imposed war against the Islamic Republic has once again underscored the strategic importance of the region, particularly the Strait of Hormuz.
The president emphasized that the bravery of Iranian naval forces has demonstrated that this vital passage plays a key role in global energy transit while also serving as a symbol of national sovereignty and “reflects Iran’s undeniable role in ensuring regional and global security.”
Pezeshkian argued that Iran’s enemies have shifted their pressure tactics from the economic sector toward naval blockades and restrictions on maritime trade routes as a new means of coercing the Iranian nation and government.
“But our enemies should know that the Persian Gulf is not an arena for imposing unilateral foreign wills, but rather is a part of the system of international interactions, and its security only makes sense in light of collective cooperation and mutual respect for the sovereignty of its coastal countries,” he added.
“As we have repeatedly announced, the presence and interference of foreigners will not help improve security in the region but will create tension and disrupt lasting peace in the Persian Gulf,” Pezeshkian emphasized.
Referring to the 40 days of US-Israeli aggression, he said it became clear that US military bases in regional countries failed to provide security for their host nations and instead jeopardized their peace and stability.
Pezeshkian stated that bases from which attacks against Iran were launched are considered legitimate targets for the country, as they facilitated the invasion of the Islamic Republic.
Asserting Iran’s role as the guardian of security in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, the president said Tehran continues to uphold the principles of freedom of navigation and maritime safety — except for hostile countries. He reiterated, however, that such principles must be implemented with respect for the Iranian nation and its sovereignty.
Pezeshkian held the United States and the Israeli regime responsible for any insecurity in the waterway and expressed hope that lasting security and stability would be restored to the Persian Gulf without the presence of foreign powers.
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Ceasefire and blockade standoff
On April 8, a Pakistan-brokered temporary ceasefire took effect following 40 days of hostilities. High-ranking Iranian and American negotiators subsequently held talks in Islamabad, but the discussions stopped short of an agreement amid what Tehran described as Washington’s “excessive demands” and insistence on “unreasonable positions.”
Since then, Iran has categorically refused to rejoin the process unless the US lifts what it calls the illegal blockade imposed on Iranian vessels and ports. Tehran has also asserted that, as long as the blockade remains in place, it has no intention of reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
The US blockade of Iranian ports, the president added, has failed to achieve its stated aim of cutting off Iran’s oil revenues.
Source: Press TV edited buy Al-manar English website