Iran has rejected speculation that it has blocked the crucial Strait of Hormuz, with Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh saying Tehran would openly declare any such move if it were taken.
The clarification comes at a time of rising military tensions involving Iran, Israel, and the United States. Speaking at the Raisina Dialogue 2026 in New Delhi, Khatibzadeh described Iran as a “responsible power” in the Persian Gulf and insisted the country continues to act as a stabilising presence in the region.
“Iran is an anchor of stability in the Strait of Hormuz. We will announce if we close the Strait of Hormuz. We have not closed it. We are a responsible power,” he said.
Addressing diplomats and policy experts at the conference, the Iranian official said Tehran has no immediate plans to restrict navigation through the strategic waterway. “We have not yet closed the Strait of Hormuz. We have no intention to do that until further notice,” he said, arguing that Iran’s presence helps maintain maritime stability in the area.
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Iran blames US, Israel for escalating tensions
Khatibzadeh said Iran remains committed to international maritime rules and freedom of navigation. However, he accused the United States of undermining security in the region.
The Iranian diplomat also took aim at US President Donald Trump, criticising Washington’s rhetoric about Iran’s political leadership.
“President Trump is asking for a leadership change in Iran, while he can’t even appoint the mayor of New York. Can you imagine this colonial approach? While he would like to see democracy at home, he would like to topple the democratically elected president of Iran,” he said.
Describing the ongoing confrontation as an “existential war,” Khatibzadeh alleged that the US and Israel had launched attacks against Iran without provocation.
“What is being done by Americans and Israelis today is against international law and norms. There was no provocation from Iran. My country is under attack based on flat lies that Iran was imposing a threat,” he said.
He warned that Tehran would retaliate against any military strikes, stating, “We have no option but to hit wherever the Americans are originating their attack from.”
The Iranian official also claimed that Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad was conducting “false-flag operations” aimed at widening the conflict to other parts of the region, including Saudi Arabia, Cyprus, and Qatar.
Khatibzadeh further criticised attacks on senior government officials, calling such actions a “dangerous” and “unprecedented” development in global politics.
Diplomacy remains the only path, says Iranian minister
Despite the sharp rhetoric, the Iranian diplomat stressed that dialogue must ultimately resolve the crisis.
Khatibzadeh, who also heads the Institute for Political and International Studies, said Iran values diplomatic engagement and sees India as a country with a similar strategic outlook.
“India and Iran share a chess mentality not like the American football mentality. Diplomacy down the road is the only option,” he said.