Iran Calls International 'Hormuz Initiative,' Including South Korea, 'Hypocritical'

The Hankyoreh reports on Iran's sharp rebuke of the 'Hormuz Peace Initiative,' a multilateral effort involving European nations and South Korea, aimed at ensuring maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, directly challenged the initiative, labeling it as profoundly hypocritical. His statements, disseminated via social media, highlight a deep-seated resentment towards what Iran perceives as a Western double standard in applying international law.

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Oh, that 'international law'? The one the EU pulls out to lecture other countries, but secretly allows the aggressive wars of the US and Israel and turns a blind eye to the atrocities against Iran?

Baghaei's criticism specifically targets the European Union's perceived selective enforcement of international norms. He argues that while Europe lectures other nations, it tacitly permits the military actions of the United States and Israel, particularly concerning Iran. This accusation of hypocrisy is central to Iran's foreign policy narrative, portraying itself as a victim of Western geopolitical interests. The spokesperson's remarks underscore Iran's position that its actions in the Strait of Hormuz are defensive measures against potential military aggression.

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Stop the sermons. Europe's chronic failure to practice what it preaches has turned its invocation of international law into extreme hypocrisy.

The article notes that the initiative was co-hosted by Britain and France and included a virtual meeting with 49 countries and two international organizations. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's expressed commitment to contributing to a multinational force underscores Seoul's engagement in regional security dialogues, even amidst regional tensions. From the perspective presented by the Hankyoreh, which often reflects a critical stance on Western foreign policy and a desire for a more balanced international order, Iran's reaction is framed as a legitimate challenge to perceived Western hegemony and a call for consistent application of international principles.

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No provision of international law prohibits Iran from taking necessary measures against the use of the Strait of Hormuz for military attacks against it.