Strait of Hormuz disruption: Iran says US and Israel are responsible as India faces supply chain strain

Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei says the West Asia conflict has disrupted supply chains and affected countries including India. In an interview in Tehran, he argues Iran acted under international law after what he describes as unlawful attacks, and says the international community should hold the United States and Israel accountable.

Iran said disruption in global supply chains from the West Asia conflict was not Tehran’s choice. Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said India and other countries were facing economic strain. Baghaei blamed the United States and Israel for starting events that led to the situation. Baghaei spoke in an interview with India Today held in Tehran.

Baghaei said the international community should hold the US and Israel responsible. Baghaei said the impact was spreading beyond the region and affecting the wider economy. Baghaei also referred to pressure on shipping routes, including the Strait of Hormuz. Baghaei said Iran wanted stability in the waterway because Iran relied on it heavily.

Strait of Hormuz conflict and Iran’s February 28 measures

Asked about an end to the conflict and the choke point at the Strait of Hormuz, Baghaei said, "You have to see what happened on February 28. Before that, the Strait of Hormuz was open and free to every country.\"

Baghaei said Iran acted under international law after facing what Baghaei called aggression. Baghaei said, \"Iran was forced to take certain measures under international law, and I have to stress this: what Iran did is allowed under international law because we had to face aggressors, the United States and Israel, who were abusing the soil of other Persian Gulf states to attack Iran. That was absolutely unlawful. It was an act of aggression,\"

Baghaei said Iran acted to stop the water lane being used for attacks. Baghaei said, \"So we had to fight back. We had to take measures in order to prevent these aggressors from abusing this water lane for conducting military aggression against Iran. It was not Irans fault,\" Baghaei said.

West Asia conflict and US claims about Iran’s nuclear programme

The US has defended its strike on Iran by saying Tehran’s nuclear programme posed a threat. Baghaei rejected responsibility for the wider economic fallout. Baghaei said, \"We are not happy about what is happening in India and other countries, but this was caused by the United States and Israel. Iran depends on this strait more than many other countries because we are a coastal state. We want to see security and safety in this water lane,\"

Baghaei again blamed Washington and Tel Aviv for the conflict’s economic effects. Baghaei said, \"But the problem is that the United States and Israel initiated this war of aggression and inflicted these consequences on the whole economy,\" Baghaei charged, adding they have to be held accountable by the international community for what they started and are still continuing.

With inputs from PTI