Tehran, Iran – In a new escalation of tensions in the Gulf region, the head of Iran’s technical negotiating team, Kazem Gharibabadi, issued a strongly worded warning against any military action in the Strait of Hormuz. He also stressed that the waterway “is not an arena for displays of non-regional power.”
Iran: We are the guarantor of the Strait’s security.
In statements carried by the Palestinian news agency Safa, Gharibabadi stressed that the Islamic Republic of Iran, as “the responsible power and guarantor of the Strait’s security,” seriously warns against any military adventures in this sensitive waterway.
The Iranian official emphasized that the security of the Strait of Hormuz rests solely with the littoral states bordering it. He also warned “those who instigate crises” that they would bear the consequences of any actions that could destabilize the region, describing this warning as “serious and direct.”
Rejection of foreign interference
These statements come amid escalating tensions over international maritime security in the Gulf. In the same vein, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf reaffirmed his country’s firm stance against foreign military presence on Friday, July 3, 2026. He stated, “Iran will not allow the United States to interfere in the Strait of Hormuz.” Ghalibaf also noted ongoing regional diplomatic efforts to regulate maritime traffic, explaining, “We have agreed with the Sultanate of Oman on a special mechanism for navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, based on Article 5 of the memorandum of understanding signed between the two sides.”
The Strait of Hormuz: the backbone of the global economy
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most sensitive and vital waterways, given its strategic location connecting Gulf oil producers to global markets. Iran has repeatedly asserted that any attempt by international powers to interfere in the strait’s security constitutes a violation of its territorial sovereignty. Furthermore, Iran emphasizes that the security of this crucial artery is the sole collective responsibility of the littoral states, free from any external military presence.
These recent Iranian statements reflect the state of political and military mobilization in the region. In the same vein, Tehran seeks to impose its security vision, which is based on excluding international powers from the Gulf security equation. This comes at a time of growing international concern that any miscalculation could lead to an uncontrolled escalation in one of the world’s most volatile regions.
