US ambassador condemns Iran over sea mines, defends maritime operation

US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz has condemned Iran over actions in the Strait of Hormuz, warning that attacks on commercial shipping threaten global trade and set a dangerous precedent for future conflicts.

In a post on X, Waltz said the reported deployment of sea mines and attempts to impose costs on civilian shipping were “illegal and unacceptable," Caliber.Az reports. 

Regardless of how you feel about the conflict over their nuclear program, Iran laying sea mines indiscriminately in international waters and attempting to “toll” civilian commercial shipping is illegal and unacceptable.

Unfortunately there will be future conflicts and whether… https://t.co/RJjUqIdbZA

— Ambassador Mike Waltz (@michaelgwaltz) May 3, 2026

"Regardless of how you feel about the conflict over their nuclear program, Iran laying sea mines indiscriminately in international waters and attempting to 'toll\ civilian commercial shipping is illegal and unacceptable," he wrote. 

He added that such actions risk normalising disruption of global maritime routes in future crises.

“Unfortunately there will be future conflicts and whether it’s the Straits of Malacca or Gibraltar or Hormuz, the world cannot allow the precedent to stand that one side can try to punish the world’s economies in an attempt to gain leverage with the other side,” Waltz said.

He concluded by stressing that the United States and regional partners would take the lead in defending freedom of navigation.

“The US and our Gulf partners will lead the way to defend global freedom of navigation,” he wrote.

Waltz’s comments came in response to the U.S. announcement of a maritime initiative aimed at assisting commercial vessels stranded in the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing regional tensions.

By Sabina Mammadli