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Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, has warned that any attempt to bypass the Strait of Hormuz routes agreed with the United States would “increase tensions” in the Middle East, as the countries traded attacks and accusations of violating a fragile ceasefire in the region.
Speaking during a visit to Baghdad on Sunday, Araghchi said efforts to establish alternative maritime arrangements outside those recognised by Iran would complicate the reopening of the strategic waterway and further destabilise the region.
“Any attempt to adopt new or separate arrangements compared to what is underway by the Islamic Republic of Iran will only lead to more complicated situations and delays in the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and will increase the tensions, as we witnessed in the past two nights,” Araghchi told a press conference.
His comments followed reports that vessels have continued using a shipping corridor announced by Oman and the International Maritime Organisation without consulting Tehran.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had earlier criticised the move and cautioned ships against using the route.
The warning came after the US military announced fresh strikes on multiple targets in Iran on Saturday, saying the action was in response to another attack on a vessel transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Iran retaliated by launching strikes on US military bases in the Gulf.
The renewed hostilities have placed further strain on the ceasefire and ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the conflict that began after the United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran on February 28.
Araghchi urged all parties to honour the existing memorandum of understanding to prevent the truce from collapsing. He also called for a new regional security framework involving Iran, Iraq and Gulf states, insisting that such an arrangement should exclude interference from countries outside the region.
The Iranian minister welcomed Iraq’s proposal to convene a meeting involving Gulf nations, Iran and Iraq to discuss regional security.
