Tehran has no plans to close the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, stated on Thursday, March 12, 2026. The statement comes amid heightened regional tensions and follows remarks by Iran’s new supreme leader suggesting the waterway could be blocked.
Iravani addressed reporters at the United Nations in response to comments made earlier in the day by Mojtaba Khamenei, who indicated that the option of closing the Strait of Hormuz “should be pursued.”
“We are not going to close the Strait of Hormuz, but preserving peace and security in this waterway is our inherent right,” Iravani said. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for global oil supply, and any disruption could have significant economic consequences.
In a prepared statement read to journalists before taking questions, Iravani emphasized that “Iran fully respects the principle of freedom of navigation under international law and remains committed to it.”
But, he added that the current situation in the region, including within the Strait of Hormuz, is not a result of Iran’s legitimate right to self-defense, but rather “a direct consequence of destabilizing acts by the United States, including aggression against Iran and undermining regional security.”
When asked about comments made by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Pesent regarding potential U.S. Navy escorts for ships through the Strait of Hormuz, Iravani said he had no comment. Pesent told Sky News on Thursday that the U.S. Navy, potentially in cooperation with an international coalition, would accompany vessels through the waterway when feasible.
(Compiled by Mahmoud Salama, Edited by Muaz Abdulaziz)
