Iran’s mission to the United Nations on Thursday denied all “claims” that the Islamic Republic had closed the Strait of Hormuz. Describing the “claims” as “baseless” and “absurd”, the Iranian mission claimed that “in fact, it is the US that threatens maritime security”.
“The claim that Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz is baseless and absurd. Iran remains committed to international law and freedom of navigation. In fact, it is the US that has threatened maritime security,” the Iranian mission on X said in a post.
On Monday, March 2 – a senior commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said the Strait of Hormuz had been closed and warned that any vessel attempting to pass through the waterway would be targeted, Iranian media reported.
The series of claims comes amid the ongoing Israeli-Iranian-US conflict, which entered its sixth day on Thursday (March 5) – with explosions also reported in Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Dubai – among other key Gulf cities.
Where is the Strait of Hormuz?
The Strait of Hormuz connects the oil-rich Persian Gulf to the Indian Ocean and lies between Iran and the Omani exclave of Musandam. At only about 50 kilometers (30 mi) wide and no deeper than 60 meters (200 ft) in places, the strait is geographically vulnerable to military encroachment.
Why is this important?
Described by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) as one of the world’s most important oil hubs, the Strait of Hormuz handles about 20 million barrels of oil a day — roughly one-fifth of global consumption — and about one-fifth of global LNG trade, mainly from Qatar.
Several strategically important islands line the waterway, including Iran’s Hormuz, Qeshm and Larak. It is also home to the disputed islands of Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa, which have been under Iranian control since 1971 and offer Tehran a commanding position over passing ships.
Iran’s Mission to the United Nations also criticized the US Navy’s attack that sank the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena in international waters, resulting in the “death of more than 100 sailors” in its X contribution.
Attack on IRIS Dena
On Wednesday, March 4, a US submarine sank an Iranian warship in international waters, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said.
Iranian officials said the vessel – the IRIS Dena – had visited India before the attack and was carrying around 130 sailors when it was hit off the coast of Sri Lanka.
IRIS Dena, a 1,500-ton Moudge-class frigate, was en route to Iran after participating in the Milan 2026 multilateral naval exercise in Visakhapatnam.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Thursday accused Washington of launching an unprovoked strike thousands of miles from Iranian territory and warned that the United States would end up “bitterly regretting the precedent it has set.”
