Amid efforts for another round of US-Iran peace talks in Pakistan, Iran has reiterated that the Strait of Hormuz was open before the war and its current closure is due to the conditions imposed on Iran.According to Iran, the Strait of Hormuz route is part of Iran’s territorial waters and Iran had not placed any restrictions on ship traffic or exercised its sovereign rights before the war. “Now we have decided to use this right. Is there any problem?! There are plans and mechanisms in Iran to manage the Strait of Hormuz, and they will be announced in due time,” said the Iranian embassy here. The remarks followed comments by US ambassador to India Sergio Gor accusing Iran of holding the entire world hostage through its blockade of the key energy waterway. “The actions of the United States in blocking Iran at sea will not help the security of the world economy and shipping,” said the embassy.“The naval blockade of Iran is a declaration of war by the United States against the world economy. We have lived in this region for thousands of years, and we know well how to use our capabilities,” it added.
