Iran warns against foreign military presence in Strait of Hormuz as UK and France propose multinational mission
via Egypt Today2 min read
Iran has issued a warning that the Strait of Hormuz is not a venue for military displays by extra-regional powers, following a joint statement from the UK and France proposing a multinational military mission to ensure freedom of navigation. Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran's deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs, stated that security in the Strait should be managed by coastal states and warned "crisis-makers" of consequences. He emphasized that Iran, as a responsible power, is closely monitoring military activities. This comes after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron announced their readiness to establish such a mission, with Oman reportedly agreeing to cooperate. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical maritime chokepoint, through which a significant portion of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments previously passed. Concerns about maritime security and naval mines persist in the waterway. French President Emmanuel Macron also mentioned the deployment of mine-countermeasure assets to the region to help restore safe navigation.
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