Iran warns US naval blockade, maritime restrictions doomed to failure
President Pezeshkian says foreign interference fuels instability as Tehran defends role in Strait of Hormuz
TEHRAN, Iran (MNTV) — President Masoud Pezeshkian on Thursday warned that any attempt by the United States to impose a naval blockade or restrict Iran’s maritime activity would fail, as he marked the National Day of the Persian Gulf.
In a message published by Fars News Agency on Thursday, Pezeshkian described the Persian Gulf as an “inseparable” part of Iran’s identity and a symbol of resistance against “old and new colonialists.” He said the observance comes amid the U.S.-Israeli-imposed war that has underscored the strategic importance of the region, particularly the Strait of Hormuz.
He said Iranian naval forces had demonstrated the significance of the passage, a critical artery for global energy flows, and framed it as both a pillar of national sovereignty and a reflection of Iran’s role in regional and international security.
Pezeshkian accused Iran’s adversaries of shifting pressure tactics from economic measures to maritime restrictions and blockades aimed at disrupting trade routes. He said the Persian Gulf “is not an arena for imposing unilateral foreign wills,” but part of a broader system of international interaction where security depends on cooperation and mutual respect among coastal states.
He reiterated Tehran’s long-standing opposition to foreign military presence in the region, arguing that such involvement heightens tensions and undermines lasting peace. Referring to the recent 40-day conflict, he said U.S. military bases in neighboring countries failed to provide security and instead exposed host nations to risk.
The president added that bases used to launch attacks against Iran would be regarded as legitimate targets, saying they facilitated aggression against the Islamic Republic.
Pezeshkian said Iran remains committed to freedom of navigation and maritime safety in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, except in the case of hostile states, while stressing that such principles must be accompanied by respect for Iran’s sovereignty.
He blamed the United States and Israel for instability in the waterway and expressed hope that durable security could be achieved without foreign military presence.
The United States and Israel launched a unilateral war against Iran on Feb. 28. Iranian forces responded with what officials described as 100 waves of retaliatory strikes, dubbed Operation True Promise 4, involving ballistic and hypersonic missiles as well as drones targeting U.S. and Israeli assets across the region.
After 40 days of fighting, a Pakistan-mediated two-week ceasefire took effect. However, talks between Washington and Tehran in Islamabad failed to produce an agreement, with Iranian officials citing what they called excessive demands and shifting positions by the U.S. delegation.
Iran has since refused to resume negotiations unless Washington lifts its naval blockade on its ports and vessels. Tehran has also said it will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz while the blockade remains in place.
U.S. efforts to curb Iran’s oil exports through port restrictions have so far failed to achieve their stated objective, Iranian officials say.
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