Iran’s mission to the United Nations has rejected claims that Tehran is bound by the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea in the Strait of Hormuz, saying the country is not a party to the treaty and therefore is not legally obligated to follow its rules.
In a statement cited by Iranian media, the mission said Iran retains authority over the Strait of Hormuz and has the legal right to take “proportionate measures” to respond to security threats and protect navigation. The remarks come amid renewed international scrutiny of the strategic waterway, one of the world’s most important shipping routes.
The Iranian side also said any disruption in the Persian Gulf would be the responsibility of the United States, accusing Washington of endangering maritime security. Tehran argued that stability in the region requires an end to what it described as aggression against Iran and respect for its sovereignty.
The statement reflects Iran’s long-standing position that it is not fully bound by the 1982 UNCLOS framework. Public legal analyses published recently also note that Iran signed the treaty but did not ratify it, leaving Tehran to argue that its obligations under the convention do not apply in the same way as they do for full parties.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical global chokepoint, with huge volumes of oil and gas passing through it under normal conditions. Any escalation there has immediate implications for shipping, energy prices and regional security.
Iran’s latest message signals that the legal and political battle over the Strait of Hormuz is still active, with Tehran framing control of the waterway as tied to national security and the wider confrontation with Washington.