"Security of the Strait of Hormuz is ensured only by Iran"

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi stated that France and Britain are deploying naval forces to the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden to bolster freedom of navigation. He views this deployment as escalating the crisis and militarizing a vital waterway. Iran asserts its littoral state sovereignty and warns of a 'decisive and immediate response' to any accompanying actions by the United States.