Iran denies Strait of Hormuz closure and issues warning to UAE

By Ahmet Taş | Wise News Press

TEHRAN, IRAN — Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has dismissed claims that the Strait of Hormuz is closed to maritime traffic, announcing that Tehran is fully prepared to assist Japanese ships navigating the critical global oil route.

The reassurances come amid heightened global energy security concerns following the outbreak of conflict between Iran, the United States, and Israel on February 28, which had previously led to a de facto blockade of the vital waterway by the Iranian military.

Guarantee for Japanese oil shipments

In a telephone interview with the Japanese news agency Kyodo News, Araghchi emphasized that the strait remains open for regular transit. However, he explicitly warned that countries actively attacking Iran should be aware they will face severe navigational restrictions in the region.

The Foreign Minister noted that Iran is ready to help Japan safely utilize the strait. Japan, which is highly dependent on the Middle East for its energy needs, receives a significant portion of its crude oil through this narrow passage. Under normal circumstances, approximately one-fifth of the world's global oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments pass through the Strait of Hormuz, making it a pivotal chokepoint for the international economy.

Stern warning to the UAE

While offering safe passage to allied and neutral nations, Tehran simultaneously issued a harsh warning to its neighbors. According to reports cited by DW Türkçe, Iran cautioned the United Arab Emirates (UAE) against allowing its territory to be used for military strikes targeting strategic Iranian-controlled islands near the Strait of Hormuz.

The Tasnim news agency reported a statement from Iran's central operations command, Khatam al-Anbiya, which specifically referenced the UAE's Emirate of Ras al-Khaimah.

"If there are new attacks from UAE territory against the Iranian islands of Abu Musa and Greater Tunb in the Persian Gulf, the powerful Iranian armed forces will hit Ras al-Khaimah in the UAE with heavy attacks," the official statement read.

Regional disputes over US military presence

The islands of Abu Musa and Greater Tunb are strategically located west of the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf. Although Iran has maintained de facto control over both islands since 1971, the UAE continues to claim sovereignty over the territory, remaining a long-standing point of diplomatic friction.

The broader context of the threat stems from Tehran's ongoing accusations that Gulf countries are granting permission to US military forces to launch strikes against Iran from their sovereign soil. Washington's allies in the region, however, continue to categorically reject these accusations.

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