CAIRO, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Ministry said Sunday that Tehran has prevented the passage in the Strait of Hormuz of vessels belonging to the United States and Israel and those participating in "the aggressions" against the country.
It said non-hostile vessels from other countries can secure safe passage by coordinating with Iranian authorities, provided they have not participated in or supported aggression against Iran and comply with safety regulations.
Just under 100 ships have passed through the strait since the start of March, and at least 20 commercial vessels were attacked off the Iranian coast since the conflict began, including the U.S.-owned MT Safesea Vishnu, said the BBC in a Thursday report.
As the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, through which around a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supply passes, continues to escalate, what statements and actions have been made by the parties involved?
The United States
-- U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that he has ordered the United States military to postpone strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for five days after holding "good and productive conversations" with Tehran.
"I have instructed the Department of War to postpone any and all military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for a five-day period, subject to the success of the ongoing meetings and discussions," he said.
This follows Trump's threat on Saturday to "hit and obliterate" Iranian power plants if the country fails to fully open the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours.
"If Iran doesn't FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST!" He wrote in a post on Truth Social.
-- U.S. media reported Friday that the U.S. military's amphibious assault ship USS Boxer, accompanied by the dock-landing ship USS Comstock and amphibious transport dock USS Portland, had left San Diego, California, to the Middle East.
Military experts believe the military buildup is part of an effort to pressure Iran into reopening the strait.
-- Trump, on March 14, said the United States and several other nations would send naval forces to secure the strait as global oil prices spike. But by Tuesday, Trump reversed course, saying his calls had gone largely unanswered.
"We do not need the help of anyone!" he said, calling the NATO allies' refusal a "very foolish mistake."
Israel
-- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday any Iranian attempt to close the Strait of Hormuz "won't work," threatening more military campaigns against Iran. "There's still more work to do, and we're gonna do it," he said.
-- Netanyahu also proposed oil and gas pipelines running west through the Arabian Peninsula to Israel. "Just have oil pipelines, gas pipelines going west through the Arabian Peninsula right up to Israel, right up to our Mediterranean ports, and you've just done away with the choke points forever," he said.
Iran
-- Iran's Defense Council warned on Monday that the country will lay naval mines in the Gulf if the United States and Israel launch any attack on its coasts or islands.
"Any attempt by the enemies to attack Iranian coasts or islands will naturally and based on common military practices cause Iran to lay various types of naval mines, including the floating ones that can be laid from the coasts, in all access routes and communication lines in the Persian Gulf and the coasts," the council said.
-- Iran's primary military command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, said Sunday that if U.S. threats are carried out, Iran would immediately adopt several punitive measures, including the full closure of the Strait of Hormuz until damaged Iranian facilities are rebuilt.
Other measures would include large-scale strikes on Israel's power, energy and communications infrastructure, attacks on regional companies with U.S. capital ties, and targeting power facilities in countries hosting U.S. military bases.
-- Iran's Foreign Ministry said Sunday the full restoration of sustainable security and stability to the strait requires an end to the anti-Iran military aggression and threats, a halt to the destabilizing actions of the United States and Israel, and full respect for Iran's legitimate interests.
Iran has always respected the freedom of navigation and maritime security and safety, the ministry said, adding that it has worked to uphold those principles over the years.
-- Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian said Sunday the Strait of Hormuz is open to all "except those who violate Iran's territory."
Yemen
-- Yemen's Houthi group said Saturday it is closely monitoring the developments in the Strait of Hormuz, and would take "appropriate action" in the face of unfolding events in the region.
The group said the United States has placed itself in a "strategic predicament," and is attempting to draw others into a broader conflict, urging increased international pressure on the United States and Israel to halt military operations against Iran.
Britain
-- Britain on Friday agreed to allow the United States to use British bases to carry out "operations to degrade the missile sites and capabilities being used to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz," while reaffirming its commitment to "not getting drawn into the wider conflict." ■
