Iran’s envoy: “Special measures have been taken to ensure the safe passage of ships from friendly countries such as India”

New Delhi: Amid the ongoing conflict, Iranian Ambassador to India Dr Mohammad Fatali toy Regarding the war narrative, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, and clarification of Iran’s maritime approach during the war. He emphasized that this conflict was an “illegal war” imposed on Iran. Looking back on his diplomatic tenure, he emphasized public unity and deepening bilateral ties, calling India a “true friend in difficult times.” extract:

ask: Many Indians have provided aid to Iran. Tehran thanked India but later deleted some of the tweets. what happened?one: We received a huge amount of donations from all over India, from north to south, east to west. Donations are still pouring in and we are sincerely grateful to the people of India for their kindness. I sincerely thank the government and people of India for their valuable support and solidarity. Contrary to what the media says, there is no particular reason for deleting these tweets. Since these donations come from people of all religions and races across the country, we feel the need to express our gratitude to all the people of India.ask: This war is also a battle of narratives. Have global perceptions shifted in favor of either party?one: Beyond all the rhetoric and conflicting statements, what happened on February 28 was an act of aggression and an illegal war against the Iranian nation.We are negotiating with the United States. This is not the first time the United States has walked away from the table while we were negotiating and attacking. For what reason? They claimed there was a “direct threat” from Iran, but the Pentagon quickly denied it, saying no such threat existed. They talked about Iran’s nuclear program and nuclear weapons – something that never existed. Now, everyone knows this is a war based on fantasy. This is an illegal war that has been imposed not only on Iran but on the entire region, with consequences for the entire international community.So far, our enemies have achieved nothing. They are seeking “regime change” in Iran. However, we are a government that emerged from a people’s revolution, and our people showed their support by taking to the streets from day one of the war. We are defending ourselves and we will spare no effort on this path.ask: The Iranian government recently praised India’s “balanced” and “neutral” stance. What does Iran expect from New Delhi? one: We appreciate the measures taken by the Indian government. This approach reflects India’s deep understanding of the complexity of the region and the importance of maintaining bilateral relations. At the same time, we expect all independent and freedom-loving countries to oppose violations of international law and acts of aggression. All governments must condemn attacks on civilian infrastructure such as hospitals, schools, universities and economic centers and, above all, the killing of innocent civilians, including children.ask: Amid heightened tensions, Iran offered inputs to help Indian ships pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Can you tell us whether there are specific mechanisms or coordination channels currently in place to ensure its safe passage? one: Iran has always emphasized the importance of shipping safety on international routes. However, it is important to note that the Strait of Hormuz is not considered international waters; it is within the territorial waters and internal waters of Iran and Oman. Therefore, protecting the interests of these two countries is the top priority in managing the strait, and the decision on transit conditions belongs to Tehran and Muscat. The strait is closed only to countries at war with Iran. In times of war, we will naturally not allow the enemy to pass through our internal waters. The reason other boats are not sailing is that the area is unsafe and insurance is extremely expensive. Despite this, we have taken special measures to ensure safe passage of ships from friendly countries, including India.ask: Is assistance to Indian ships handled on a case-by-case basis? What can be done?one: Our approach is to ensure the safe passage of ships from friendly countries, including India. This policy is based on recognized international maritime laws and regulations and navigation safety principles. In practice, this can be managed on a case-by-case and operational basis to ensure necessary coordination based on the specific circumstances of each ship and the real-time conditions in the area. We emphasize that the Strait of Hormuz is closed only to countries that directly or indirectly participate in aggression against our country.ask: What message does Iran hope to convey to the international shipping community on the issue of transit through the Strait of Hormuz?one: The Islamic Republic of Iran has always respected the principles of freedom of navigation and maritime security; however, these principles cannot be effectively implemented in the Strait of Hormuz without full respect for Iran’s sovereignty and sovereign rights as a coastal state. We emphasize that the United States and Israeli regimes are directly responsible for any damage, insecurity or heightened risk in and around this vital waterway. They launched an illegal and criminal war against our country, posing an unprecedented threat to regional stability and international shipping security. This clearly violated the basic principles of the United Nations Charter.In view of the above circumstances, the legal and legitimate measures taken by Iran were taken within the framework of established principles of international law and based on the principles of necessity and proportionality. These measures have been implemented to repel aggression and eliminate the sources of threats and will continue to be implemented in accordance with legal standards until these objectives are fully achieved and the threats and sources of aggression are eliminated.Any transit through the Strait of Hormuz must comply with measures taken by Iran and be coordinated with relevant Iranian authorities.ask: How was your tenure as Ambassador to India? What’s your biggest takeaway?one: During my stay in India, I saw positive developments in relations between the two countries. Deep historical and cultural ties have always been a strength of our interactions, and they have only grown stronger over time. The sympathy and solidarity shown by the people of India towards the people of Iran during these difficult times deserves true appreciation and will never be forgotten. We believe that a friend in need is a friend indeed, and Indian friends have also shown sincere friendship. We have maintained close contact with the Indian government, and during my visit, I saw the positive efforts made by both sides in various fields.