Al Jazeera's official website reported on May 4: In response to Trump's announcement of dispatching the navy to guide stranded vessels out of the Strait of Hormuz, Iran's military issued a statement.
The statement asserted that "the safety of the strait lies in the hands of the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran," and warned that "any safe passage or navigation" must be "coordinated with Iran's armed forces under any circumstances."
This Iranian military declaration came as a direct, firm, and public warning following the U.S. announcement of launching the "Freedom Operation" military initiative. This is not merely an empty verbal protest—it clearly signals Iran’s intent to confront the United States over sovereignty and control of the Strait of Hormuz.
The statement begins unequivocally by asserting that the safety of the Strait of Hormuz "lies in the hands of the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran"—a clear and unambiguous assertion of sovereignty.
By rejecting the concept of "international waters," Iran directly challenges the U.S. and Western claims that the Strait of Hormuz is an "international waterway" or "shared passage." From Iran’s perspective, the strait is an extension of its territorial waters, and its security and management rights fully belong to Iran.
Establishing "Iranian rules," the statement demands that all vessel "safe passage and navigation" must be "coordinated with Iran’s armed forces." This implies Iran is establishing a system of passage authorization under its own control—any navigation without its permission would be deemed illegal. This aligns completely with the spirit of Iran’s Parliament’s previously proposed "Hormuz Strait Management Law," aiming to transform temporary wartime control into a long-term, legally recognized institutional framework.
On May 3, Trump declared the start of the "guidance" operation for stranded vessels (i.e., the "Freedom Project") and warned that any interference would face "strong measures." The U.S. military plans to deploy 15,000 personnel, over a hundred aircraft, and other substantial forces to support this "defensive mission," while claiming it will not provide direct escort but instead a shipping coordination mechanism. To Iran, this move essentially constitutes intervention masked as humanitarian aid.
Iran’s military explicitly stated: "We warn any foreign military force, especially the aggressive U.S. military, that if they attempt to approach and enter the Strait of Hormuz, they will be attacked." This warning is no idle threat. On the very day the statement was released, Iran claimed to have fired two missiles at a U.S. warship attempting to enter the strait, forcing it to turn back. This demonstrates that Iran has already transformed verbal warnings into actual military confrontation, dramatically escalating the risk of conflict.
The essence of this standoff is the ultimate contest between the U.S. and Iran over rule-making authority for the world’s critical energy corridor—the Strait of Hormuz.
In summary, Iran’s statement is a declaration of confrontation with the United States over the Strait of Hormuz. It marks the shift of their rivalry from behind-the-scenes maneuvering to open confrontation, evolving from localized friction into a direct clash over control of the global energy lifeline. Iran is now enforcing its unilaterally crafted new rules backed by military power, while the U.S. seeks to break these rules through military might. The outcome of this standoff will directly determine the future trajectory of the global energy market.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1864259702250560/
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