Iranian president: US naval blockade “doomed to fail”

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on April 30 that any attempt by the United States to impose a naval blockade on Iran’s ports is “doomed to fail” and would only deepen disruptions in the Persian Gulf.

In a post on his Telegram channel, Pezeshkian wrote: “Today our enemies, by shifting their approach and exerting pressure on the economic and maritime spheres, are using a strategy of ‘naval blockade’ and restrictions on maritime trade as a new tool of pressure on the government and people of Iran.

But our enemies must know that the Persian Gulf is not an arena for imposing unilateral will; it is part of a system of international interaction, and its security is only possible through joint cooperation and respect for the sovereignty of coastal states. Any attempts at blockade or restrictions contradict international law and threaten the interests of the peoples of the region and global peace and stability, and they are doomed to fail.

As we have repeatedly stated, the presence and intervention of foreign states do not enhance regional security; on the contrary, they create tension and undermine sustainable peace in the Persian Gulf. In times of war, the presence of US military bases has not ensured the security of host countries but has threatened their stability, which has led us to view these bases as sources of threat and to consider strikes against them legitimate.

The Islamic Republic of Iran, as a guardian of security in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, remains committed to the principles of freedom of navigation and maritime security—except with regard to aggressor states—but believes that adherence to these principles must be accompanied by respect for Iran’s people and sovereignty. Responsibility for any instability in these waters lies with the United States and the Zionist regime.”

By Jeyhun Aghazada