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Iran’s envoy says his country won’t close Hormuz Strait, citing ties with friendly nations
View(s):Iran will not close the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint through which one-fifth of the world’s fuel supplies move, as it does not want to put friendly and brotherly countries in the region and outside into economic difficulty, Iran’s ambassador Alireza Delkhosh has said.
Allaying fears expressed by economists and policymakers over a massive spike in oil prices and its adverse economic repercussions for the rest of the world, especially a crisis-hit country like Sri Lanka, the ambassador said his country understood how important the freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz was. The freedom of navigation in the Gulf region is as strategically important to Iran as it is for other countries, he said.
Iranian ambassador Alireza Delkhosh at a news conference. Pic by Akila Jayawardena
On Thursday, he addressed a news conference at his Colombo residence to explain Iran’s stance on the ceasefire with Israel, as well as the consequences of the war.
Dr Delkhosh said the war was an outright aggression and totally illegal. It violated principles of international law and the United Nations Charter. He called on the international community to condemn Israel’s aggression against Iran.
Asked about Sri Lanka’s statement that fell far short of an outright condemnation of Israel and the United States for their attacks on Iran, the ambassador said he met Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath on Wednesday to discuss bilateral issues, and Iran was pleased with the stand Sri Lanka had taken in keeping with its non-aligned foreign policy.
He said Iran had agreed to increase tea imports from Sri Lanka following a request from Minister Herath to do so.
The ambassador said there were no reports of major radiation leaks from the nuclear facilities damaged by the US-Israeli attacks. He said that despite the severe damage Iran’s civilian and nuclear facilities suffered, the people were celebrating Iran’s victory over two major adversaries.
The ambassador said the war was aimed at scuttling a breakthrough in talks between Iran and the US over Iran’s nuclear programme.
Dr Delkhosh said Iran would hit back more destructively if Israel broke the ceasefire. “All options are on the table if war breaks out again,” he said.
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