In a blistering response, Iran’s top diplomat Esmaeil Baghaei branded European Commission VP Kaja Kallas’s call for open access to the Strait of Hormuz as ‘extreme hypocrisy.’ The verbal salvo came as Tehran shut the strategic strait, alleging US breaches of commitments that necessitated the move.
Kallas had emphasized that international maritime law demands free passage through such waterways, rejecting any Iranian plans for transit fees. She vowed Europe’s role in restoring seamless trade and energy flows after a ceasefire, pointing to expanded operations of the EU’s Aspides naval mission for shipping security.
Not mincing words on X, Baghaei shared Kallas’s post and lambasted the EU for preaching rules it never follows. He highlighted the bloc’s tacit approval of US-Israel offensives and atrocities against Iranians, contrasting it with empty rhetoric on law.
‘International law doesn’t bar Iran from protecting itself against military threats via the strait,’ Baghaei asserted, noting recent US deployments there as proof of provocation. His comments expose a core grievance: Europe’s words ring hollow amid perceived double standards.
The strait, lifeline for Persian Gulf oil exports, now sits at the heart of this standoff. With global energy prices volatile, stakeholders watch closely as Iran’s defiance challenges Western demands, potentially reshaping regional dynamics and trade norms for years to come.
