Tehran presses Washington over frozen assets, Strait of Hormuz security

Iran has called on the United States to unfreeze Iranian assets held abroad and guarantee the security of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz as part of Tehran’s response to a US proposal.

Speaking at a press conference, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran’s demands were reasonable and aimed at protecting both Iranian interests and regional maritime security, Mizan reports.

Baghaei questioned criticism of Iran’s position, stating: “Iran’s demand to stop maritime piracy against Iranian vessels, Iran’s demand to release assets belonging to the Iranian people that have been illegally frozen in foreign banks for many years due to US pressure — are these excessive demands?”

He also defended Iran’s proposal regarding navigation in the strategically important waterway, asking: “Our proposal to ensure safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz — is this an excessive demand?”

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical energy transit routes, with a significant share of global oil shipments passing through the narrow passage linking the Persian Gulf to international waters.

Baghaei further criticized Washington’s approach to regional diplomacy, saying Iran regretted that “views imposed by Israel” were prevailing in the United States regarding efforts to resolve the ongoing conflict.

By Vafa Guliyeva