Gharibabadi: Current Hormuz Strait difficulties stem from military aggression against Iran and naval blockade

Iran's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kazem Gharibabadi, said Iran is seeking to improve relations with its neighbours and that no country should allow its territory to be used for armed attacks against Iran.

According to APA, Gharibabadi made the remarks in a speech at the summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA). He said the Strait of Hormuz had been open for decades and had operated without problems.

Gharibabadi said the main cause of the current difficulties is military aggression against Iran and a naval blockade imposed on the country. He stated that the security of navigation is linked to the security of coastal states, and that the right to free navigation cannot be defended without taking into account the security of those states. He added that peace and stability in the region, and safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, require an end to aggression, the complete lifting of the naval blockade and sanctions against Iran, and respect for the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity.