Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister: France and Britain Should Not Escalate the Crisis, Only Iran Can Ensure the Security of the Strait of Hormuz

On May 10, Xinhua News Agency reported from Tehran (reporter Chen Xiao, Shadati) that in response to France and the UK planning to send additional warships to the Red Sea and the waters around the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Karibabadi stated on social media that any military deployment from outside the region under the guise of "protecting shipping" would "only exacerbate the crisis and militarize this critical waterway." Only Iran can ensure the security of the Strait, and no country is allowed to interfere.

The statement said that France has announced the dispatch of the aircraft carrier "Charles de Gaulle" to the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, and the UK has also indicated it will cooperate in sending additional warships to the relevant waters. "Maritime navigation safety cannot be achieved through displays of military force, especially for those entities that support, participate in, or remain silent on aggression and blockades, which have become part of the problem themselves."

Karibabadi stated that the root cause of regional insecurity lies in the illegal resort to force, the ongoing threats to coastal countries, the implementation of maritime blockades, and the disregard for the United Nations Charter.

The statement emphasized: "The Strait of Hormuz is not the common property of external powers... The Islamic Republic of Iran exercises sovereignty over the Strait and establishes relevant legal arrangements, which is a right enjoyed by Iran as a coastal state."

In response to France's proposed "mine-sweeping" and "escorting" mission plans, Karibabadi stressed that whether in wartime or peacetime, "only the Islamic Republic of Iran can ensure the security of the Strait and will not allow any country to interfere in such matters."

The statement concluded with a warning that if France, the UK, or other countries cooperate with the US in actions deemed by Iran to violate international law in the Strait of Hormuz, the Iranian armed forces will respond "decisively and swiftly." Iran solemnly advises these countries not to complicate the situation further.