Iran's FM calls for drafting "new protocol" for Strait of Hormuz

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has blamed the United States for the current situation in the Middle East and called for the development of a “new protocol” that will govern navigation through the Strait of Hormuz after the war, Al Jazeera reports.

“I accept that our friendly countries are upset and that the people of the region have been harmed. That is why Dr Pezeshkian apologised to the people of the region, because as a result of US aggression against us and our response and retaliation, they may have been affected,” Araghchi said, referring to the Iranian president.”

“But all of this is America’s fault. We did not start this war; we are only defending ourselves,” Araghchi added,” he added.

The minister also defended Iran’s decision to block ships from countries allied with the US and Israel from passing through the strategic narrow waterway.

“From our perspective, this is a waterway located next to Iran. Naturally, we will not allow our enemies to use this waterway,” he said.

He added that the ongoing fighting had already created insecurity around the shipping lane, discouraging some countries and operators from transiting the route.

He then called for the development of a “new protocol” for the narrow waterway after the war ends.

“In my view, we need to design new arrangements for the Strait of Hormuz and the way ships pass through it in the future — after the war — so that peaceful navigation through this waterway can be permanently maintained under clear regulations,” he said.

By Khagan Isayev