By: IndoUS Tribune News Desk

Iran has warned that the Strait of Hormuz is not a “theater” for military deployments by outside powers, asserting that responsibility for security in the strategic waterway rests solely with Iran and Oman.

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs, Kazem Gharibabadi, issued the warning on X, saying Tehran remains the guarantor of security in the strait and cautioned against any foreign military movements in the sensitive maritime corridor.

His remarks came in response to a joint statement issued by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, who described the Strait of Hormuz as a vital global shipping route. The two leaders said Oman had agreed to work with Britain and France to help ensure safe navigation and indicated that a broader multinational military mission could be deployed if necessary to safeguard freedom of navigation.

Rejecting the proposal, Gharibabadi said the security of the strait should be managed exclusively by the regional countries directly responsible for it.

Meanwhile, Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency reported that eight vessels attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz along Oman’s coastline were turned back on Saturday, citing maritime tracking data. Reports indicated that several ships reversed course near the Musandam Peninsula before changing direction.

Iran has maintained tighter control over the strategic waterway since late February, following joint U.S. and Israeli military strikes on Iranian territory. Tehran subsequently restricted the passage of vessels linked to the United States and Israel through the strait.

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical energy corridors, handling a significant share of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments. Rising geopolitical tensions in the region continue to raise concerns over maritime security and the uninterrupted flow of international energy supplies.