Archive photo: European Union Foreign Policy Coordinator Kaja Kallas and Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmail Baghaei
Iran on Sunday strongly criticized the European Union over its position on transit rules in the Strait of Hormuz, accusing it of double standards amid escalating tensions linked to the ongoing US-Iranian conflict.Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei criticized European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, saying Europe was citing international law selectively. “Oh, this ‘international law’?! That law that the European Union is dusting off to lecture others while quietly giving the green light to an American-Israeli war of aggression… Stay away from the sermons,” he said, describing Europe’s position as “the height of hypocrisy.”Baghaei stressed that Iran, as a coastal country, has the right to regulate movement in the strategic waterway and responded to calls for unrestricted passage.
Iran defends control of the Strait of Hormuz and rejects “unconditional transit”
Baghaei said that Tehran has the right to dispose of the Strait, stressing that “there is no rule in international law that prevents Iran… from taking the necessary measures to stop using the Strait of Hormuz to launch a military aggression against Iran.”
He also rejected the concept of free passage under current circumstances, saying: “‘Unconditional transit corridor’ in Hormuz? This fantasy set sail at the moment when US/Israeli aggression brought US military assets into the Strait’s backyard.”
The European Union warns of transit fees and offers maritime support
His comments came after Callas stressed that transit through major waterways should remain open and free, warning that any “pay-for-passage scheme would set a dangerous precedent for global sea routes.”She added that Europe could play a role in restoring normal life once hostilities subside, noting that the European Union’s ASPEDS naval mission could be strengthened to protect shipping through the region.
Tensions are rising as Iran signals tougher measures
The exchange comes after Iran indicated it may prioritize ships willing to pay fees under new transit protocols, citing limited capacity. The situation escalated further after the Iranian Revolutionary Guard announced that the strait would remain closed, warning that any ship approaching it could be “targeted.”These developments come amid broader tensions over the US naval blockade of Iranian ports. Iran has said the Strait of Hormuz will not be fully opened unless the United States lifts the blockade, and Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, the speaker of Iran’s parliament, warned that a final peace deal remains “elusive.”The strait, which transports nearly a fifth of the world’s oil and gas supplies, remains central to the crisis, with its disruption continuing to impact global trade and energy markets.
