As mourners gathered at Imam Khomeini Mosalla Grand Mosque in Tehran for the week-long funeral rites for the country's slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran sent out a warning about the contentious Strait of Hormuz to the Western nations.
The strait "is not a stage for extra-regional powers to display military force," Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said, as he warned against "any military activity" in the key choke point that became a flashpoint between Iran and the US during the Middle East conflict that dragged on to more than 100 days.
Iran's warning assumes significance as it signals a hardline position on the Strait as backroom negotiations are on to end the conflict despite the shaky ceasefire talks with Washington. Iran seeks complete control over the Strait of Hormuz and intends to levy a toll for transit.
A fifth of the world's energy supplies passed through the chokepoint before the conflict. The Middle East conflict halted the transit sending oil prices soaring as much as $120 a barrel as Iran shut the Strait and the US enforced a naval blockade of Tehran.
"As a responsible power and the guarantor of security in the strait, Iran warns against any military activity in this sensitive waterway," Gharibabadi wrote in a post on X.
Gharibabadi tagged his warning by sharing a UK-France joint statement on the Strait of Hormuz, that said the NATO countries "stand ready to deploy the wider Multinational Military Mission to support freedom of navigation" in the Strait.
Reiterating that the security of the strait is under the jurisdiction of the littoral states, Gharibabadi stated, "Those who create crises will bear responsibility for the consequences of their adventurism. This is a serious warning."
The UK-France joint statement also noted that Oman had agreed to collaborate with the countries on the issue, further irking Iran. Oman had earlier proposed a voluntary fees framework along with Iran, and the UK-France statement is a contradiction to the reported stance.
A memorandum of understanding between Iran and the US took effect on June 18. It was electronically signed by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and US President Donald Trump. The pact provides a roadmap to end the Middle East conflict by addressing disputed issues between Tehran and Washington through negotiations.
It paved the way for a cessation of hostilities and sanctions relief, and discussions began on the nuclear issue, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and broader regional security arrangements.
Iran has warned Washington and Israel against any "misadventure" during its observance of the funeral of Khamenei, which will end on July 9. Tehran has also enforced airspace closures imposed extensive central traffic bans.
Khamenei's funeral ceremonies began with the national anthem, Quran recitations and religious eulogies, Iran's state-backed media reported. Khamenei was killed in US-Israeli strikes on Feb. 28, that plunged the Middle East into a conflict.
Foreign leaders and official delegations from across the region are slated to arrive to pay tribute to Khamenei.
Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev, Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz, Iraqi President Nizar Amidi, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir are attending the event.
