Strait of Hormuz: Tehran warns Paris and London against military deployment

Iran has issued a stern warning to France and the United Kingdom, cautioning them against any military projection into the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's Vice Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi declared on Saturday that the strategic waterway should not become a "theater of military demonstration for powers outside the region."

This warning comes in response to a joint statement by French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, reaffirming their commitment to ensuring freedom of navigation in the vital maritime corridor. Gharibabadi asserted on his X account that "Iran is the responsible power and the guarantor of security in the Strait of Hormuz," emphasizing that security in the strait should be exclusively managed through cooperation among the Gulf's coastal states.

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Iran is the responsible power and the guarantor of security in the Strait of Hormuz.

The diplomat further warned that any "crisis-maker" would bear full responsibility for the consequences of what he termed "adventurism." He reiterated, "the security of Hormuz rests with the coastal states; crisis-makers will be responsible for the consequences of their adventure; this is a serious warning."

Paris and London had previously announced their intention to deploy an expanded multinational military mission to support freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. This announcement follows recent tensions surrounding the strait, despite a memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran aimed at de-escalating hostilities and reopening the strait to navigation. Technical talks between U.S. and Iranian officials are reportedly ongoing in Doha.

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the security of Hormuz rests with the coastal states; crisis-makers will be responsible for the consequences of their adventure; this is a serious warning.