File photo: EU foreign policy chief Khadja Karas and Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghayi
Iran on Sunday harshly criticized the European Union’s stance on transit rules in the Strait of Hormuz, accusing it of double standards amid rising tensions related to the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict.Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei lashed out at EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, saying Europe was selectively invoking international law. “Oh, that ‘international law’?! While the EU quietly gave the green light to the US-Israeli war of aggression, it gave it a fresh coat of paint and preached to other countries… stop preaching,” he said, calling Europe’s position “extremely hypocritical.”Baghaei insisted that Iran, as a coastal state, had the right to regulate activities in the strategic waterway and dismissed calls not to restrict access.
Iran defends control of Hormuz, rejects “unconditional transit”
Baghaei said Tehran had the right to take action in the strait, stressing that “the rules of international law do not prohibit Iran… from taking necessary measures to prevent the Strait of Hormuz from being used to launch military aggression against Iran.”He also dismissed the concept of free passage under current conditions, saying “‘Unconditional transit passage’ through the Strait of Hormuz? This illusion began when US/Israeli aggression brought US military assets into the Strait’s backyard.”
EU warns against transit fees, offers maritime support
His comments came after Karas stressed that transit on major waterways must remain open and free, warning that any “pay-to-pass scheme would set a dangerous precedent for global sea lanes”.She added that Europe could play a role in restoring normalcy once hostilities ease, noting that the EU’s Aspid naval mission could be strengthened to protect shipping across the region.
Tensions rise as Iran hints at tougher measures
The exchange comes after Iran said it might prioritize ships willing to pay fees under a new transit deal, citing limited capacity. The situation further escalated after Iran’s Revolutionary Guards announced that the strait would remain closed and warned that any ship approaching the strait could be “targeted.”The developments come amid broader tensions over a U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports. Iran says the Strait of Hormuz will not fully reopen unless the United States lifts the blockade, with parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warning that a final peace deal remains “out of reach.”The strait, which carries nearly a fifth of the world’s oil and gas supplies, remains at the heart of the crisis, with disruptions continuing to impact global trade and energy markets.
