Iranian military warns: Gulf port security “indivisible” amid rising tensions

TEHRAN, April 13 (YPA) – Colonel Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbiya Air Defense Base of the Iranian Army, warned on Monday that any threat to the security of Iran’s ports in the Gulf and the Sea of Oman would have wider consequences, declaring that “no port in these waters will remain safe” under such conditions.

In an official statement, Zolfaghari affirmed that the Iranian Armed Forces consider defending the country’s legal rights a fundamental duty, stressing that Iran’s sovereignty over its territorial waters is a natural and legitimate right of its people.

He added that Iranian forces would continue to ensure security in territorial waters with determination, noting that “enemy vessels” will not be permitted to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, while other ships may transit the strait provided they comply with regulations set by Iranian authorities.

Zolfaghari further stated that, in light of ongoing threats to Iran’s national security—even after the end of the war—the country will enforce a lasting mechanism to monitor and control navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

He also condemned what he described as U.S.-imposed restrictions on maritime traffic in international waters, labeling them “illegal” and akin to acts of piracy.

Reiterating his warning, Zolfaghari concluded that maritime security in the Gulf and the Sea of Oman is “indivisible,” emphasizing that if Iran’s ports are endangered, the security of all ports in the region will be at risk.

AA