![\"\u2018Spare](\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-130364346,imgsize-996285,width-400,height-225,resizemode-4\/untitled-design-13.jpg\" "\\"<p>File")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nFile photo: EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and Iran\u2019s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei <\/p>\n
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Iran on Sunday sharply criticised the European Union over its position on transit rules in the Strait of Hormuz, accusing it of double standards amid escalating tensions linked to the ongoing US-Iran conflict.Iran\u2019s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei hit out at EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, saying Europe invokes international law selectively. \u201cOh, that \u2018international law\u2019?! The one that the EU dusts off to lecture others while quietly green-lighting a US-Israeli war of aggression\u2026 Spare the sermons,\u201d he said, calling Europe\u2019s stance \u201cpeak hypocrisy.\u201dBaghaei asserted that Iran, as a coastal state, has the right to regulate movement in the strategic waterway and pushed back against calls for unrestricted passage.<\/p>\n Baghaei said Tehran is within its rights to act in the Strait, stressing, \u201cNo rule of international law forbids Iran\u2026 from taking necessary measures to stop the Strait of Hormuz being used for waging military aggression against Iran.\u201dHe also dismissed the concept of free passage under current conditions, saying, \u201c\u2018Unconditional transit passage\u2019 in Hormuz? That fiction sailed the moment US\/Israeli aggression brought US military assets into the strait\u2019s backyard.\u201d<\/p>\n His remarks came after Kallas emphasised that transit through key waterways must remain open and free, warning that any \u201cpay-for-passage scheme will set a dangerous precedent for global maritime routes\u201d.She added that Europe could play a role in restoring normalcy once hostilities ease, noting that the EU\u2019s Aspides naval mission could be strengthened to protect shipping across the region.<\/p>\n The exchange comes after Iran indicated it may prioritise vessels willing to pay fees under new transit protocols, citing limited capacity. The situation escalated further after Iran\u2019s Revolutionary Guard announced that the Strait would remain closed, warning that any vessel approaching it could be \u201ctargeted.\u201dThe developments come amid broader tensions over the US naval blockade on Iranian ports. Iran has said the Strait of Hormuz will not fully reopen unless the United States lifts the blockade, with Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of the Iranian parliament, warning that a final peace deal remains \u201cfar\u201d off.The Strait, which carries nearly a fifth of the world\u2019s oil and gas supply, remains central to the crisis, with its disruption continuing to impact global trade and energy markets.<\/div>\n\nIran defends Hormuz controls, rejects \u2018unconditional transit\u2019<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
EU warns against transit fees, offers maritime support<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
Tensions rise as Iran signals stricter measures<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n