Iranian Foreign Minister: Strait of Hormuz is closed to enemies

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. (Chatham House-Wikimedia Commons)

JAKARTA - Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi confirmed that the Strait of Hormuz became a war zone after the massive Israeli-US attack on Iran began on February 28.

"After 15 days of war, they have asked other parties to ensure the security of the Strait of Hormuz, turning to those they consider enemies until yesterday," Araghchi said on Monday, March 16, quoted by Al Jazera.

Araghchi's statement came after a number of countries that initially supported the Israeli-US military operation without siding with Iran as the victim of the attack are now trying to defuse the conflict in the Middle East and Gulf regions.

The countries eased war tensions as the world's energy supply from the Strait of Hormuz was held up by the Israeli-US attack on Iran.

"They are asking other countries to come and help them so that the strait remains open. From our perspective, the strait is open, but closed to our enemies, closed to those who carry out this cowardly aggression against us and their allies," Araghchi continued.

At least 200 tankers were stuck in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, March 3, which Iran called a war zone in the wake of the US-Israeli attack. (Wikimedia Commons)

Araghchi also stressed that the US-Israel who started the war openly intended to interfere with the sovereignty of his country and stated that the Islamic Republic of Iran must surrender unconditionally.

"The war started by the enemy by demanding unconditional surrender," Araghchi said.