WANA (Jun 01) – Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs has stated that sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz rests solely with its two coastal states, Iran and Oman, stressing that no other country has the right to interfere in the management of the strategic waterway.

 

Speaking on the issue, Kazem Gharibabadi said that Iran has established and implemented specific regulations governing navigation through the Strait of Hormuz under current wartime conditions and has not permitted any foreign involvement in the process.

 

He noted that once conditions return to normal, appropriate legal and operational arrangements will need to be established to ensure safe and secure maritime transit during peacetime.

 

According to Gharibabadi, any future framework for navigation through the strait must be developed in coordination with Oman as the other coastal state.

 

The Iranian official said ongoing consultations between Tehran and Muscat have yielded positive progress, adding that Oman also recognizes and upholds its sovereign rights over its territorial waters—rights that, he emphasized, cannot be undermined.

A vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran, May 22, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)

Gharibabadi also criticized what he described as U.S. pressure on Oman, arguing that threats against a sovereign state for exercising its lawful authority constitute a violation of international law. He said Iran has urged Oman not to yield to such pressure and to continue exercising its sovereign rights.

 

Addressing the economic impact of disruptions to maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, Gharibabadi said vessels waiting to transit the waterway face significant costs, including delays, storage expenses, and higher transportation charges. He added that reports indicate war-risk insurance premiums have risen sharply in recent months.

 

According to him, the primary beneficiaries of these increased costs are Western insurance companies, while shipping firms and countries relying on the route bear the financial burden.

 

He argued that compliance with Iran’s navigation regulations would be considerably less costly than paying elevated war-risk insurance premiums and would also reduce the risks of delays, inspections, or vessel seizures. Such cooperation, he said, would facilitate faster and more efficient passage through the strait.

 

Rejecting claims that Iran seeks to disrupt international shipping, Gharibabadi stated that Tehran’s objective is not to detain vessels or obstruct maritime trade, but rather to implement measures that are consistent with international law and designed to maintain security and order in one of the world’s most important shipping lanes.

 

He concluded by saying that Iran intends to continue enforcing these arrangements despite external pressure, criticism, and operational challenges, and has no plans to retreat from its position.