TEHRAN — Iran on Saturday warned Britain and France against any military deployment in the Strait of Hormuz, saying security in the strategic waterway should be ensured by countries bordering the Gulf and cautioning that outside intervention could heighten regional tensions.
The warning came after Britain and France said they stood ready to deploy a broader multinational military mission to support freedom of navigation through the strait, one of the world's most important energy shipping routes.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said the Strait of Hormuz "is not a stage for extra-regional powers to display military force" and described Iran as "the guarantor of security" in the waterway.
"As a responsible power and the guarantor of security in the strait, Iran warns against any military activity in this sensitive waterway," Gharibabadi wrote on X, adding that security should remain the responsibility of the littoral states. He said those who create crises would bear responsibility for the consequences of what he described as their "adventurism."
The British and French proposal follows weeks of heightened tensions over navigation through the Strait of Hormuz after conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel disrupted commercial shipping and raised concerns about global energy supplies. The waterway carries a significant share of the world's seaborne crude oil exports.
The latest exchange underscores continuing disagreements over who should guarantee security in the narrow passage despite ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing regional tensions following a U.S.-Iran ceasefire framework reached in June.
Iran has repeatedly asserted that it has authority over navigation arrangements in the strait. Earlier this week, Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters warned that any U.S. interference in the waterway would trigger a "decisive and swift" response and said commercial vessels should follow routes designated by Tehran. State media carried the statement, which could not be independently verified.
Britain has signaled it is prepared to contribute to efforts aimed at protecting commercial shipping, while France has backed multinational planning focused on safeguarding freedom of navigation. Officials from both countries have presented the proposed mission as defensive in nature and intended to reduce risks to maritime traffic.
As of Saturday, there was no indication that Britain or France had altered their position, and no deployment timetable had been officially announced.
