Iranian Ambassador: Concerns about Strait of Hormuz closure — ask the United States

Iran’s ambassador to Indonesia, Mohammad Boroujerdi, told media at his residence in Jakarta on Thursday that the public concerned about the possible closure of the Strait of Hormuz should inquire of the United States, which he said has come from very far to the Middle East and is disrupting security in the Strait of Hormuz. He stressed that the Strait of Hormuz remains open, and that Iran only enforces a special traffic protocol for wartime in order to maintain security. He also emphasised that the Strait remains passable for those that comply with the protocols Iran applies during wartime. ‘The Strait of Hormuz is not closed. The Strait of Hormuz remains open. And we are simply the entities that organise security. Only those who comply with the protocols can pass through the Strait of Hormuz with ease,’ he said. The diplomat added that the Strait of Hormuz is a place where Iran has maintained security for centuries, safeguarding the strait for the security of the entire country, including Iran itself, while ensuring that no country exploits the strait’s security. Located between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, the Strait of Hormuz serves as the world’s only sea route from the Persian Gulf to the open sea, underlining its status as one of the most strategically vital points on Earth. Around 20 percent of the world’s oil consumption passes through this strait. Iranian media reported that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had closed the Strait of Hormuz to vessel traffic, stating that the vital oil and gas waterway was unsafe due to attacks by the United States and Israel. Since the strait was closed, oil prices in Asian markets have risen by about 13 percent to around $80 per barrel, with potential to reach $100 per barrel if the closure lasts longer. The closure of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has also affected two tanker ships belonging to PT Pertamina International Shipping (PIS), which are still in the Gulf area.