The latest attack on Iran's harbours by the United States has been vehemently condemned by Iran, which termed it as a “serious violation” of its sovereignty. With increased hostilities between the two countries, the precarious truce between them is now in jeopardy because of growing threats from either side.
In an official communication to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the ambassador of Iran to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, said that it was a serious violation of the sovereignty of Iran to impose such a blockade. He further asserted that the "unlawful" measures represent a direct defiance of the fundamental principles of the international law of the sea.
The crisis intensified on Sunday when US President Donald Trump ordered the blockade on all vessels entering or leaving Iranian coastal areas in the Gulf. This directive followed the collapse of peace negotiations over the weekend. The President has warned strongly that all Iranian military ships that try to violate the naval blockade will be attacked and destroyed. While the blockade is set to commence as of 1400 GMT Monday, it deliberately disregards a ceasefire agreement lasting for two weeks that had been achieved not more than a week ago. Despite this, mediation from Pakistan and Qatar still calls on both parties to honour the earlier agreement
The UN Secretary General has since called for all parties to maintain freedom of navigation within the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway, which facilitates the passage of approximately twenty per cent of the world's oil and gas, has become the primary theatre for this geopolitical power struggle. The two powers seem to be leveraging this strategic point to gain negotiating advantage in a deadlock that appears to exist between the two.
Iravani expressed concerns that this blockade poses an immediate danger to international peace and the prospects of war due to the volatility of the region. In another statement, Iravani accused the Middle Eastern states that have been giving support to US forces, such as Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, and Jordan, of aiding in wrongful practices and asked for compensation for all the damages incurred because of their involvement in these practices.
Also read: Iran desperate for deal as talks continue via Pakistan: Trump
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