Iran rejects US blame for Hormuz shipping disruptions, rising energy prices
TEHRAN: Iran has rejected US accusations that Tehran is responsible for disruptions to commercial shipping and rising energy prices, saying Washington itself triggered the crisis by launching what Tehran described as a war of aggression against Iran.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said the Strait of Hormuz remained fully open until February 28, when the United States and Israel launched military action against Iran.
In a statement posted on his X account, Baqaei accused Washington of starting an unlawful war that disrupted commercial shipping, halted tanker movements and contributed to volatility in global energy markets.
“The Strait of Hormuz was wide open until 28 February, when the #USrael attacked Iran,” Baqaei said, adding that the conflict had disrupted the normal flow of commercial shipping and pushed energy prices higher.
He accused the United States of attempting to shift responsibility for the consequences of the conflict onto Iran.
“Washington unleashed an unlawful and savage war on the region and disrupted the normal flow of commercial shipping; tankers are halted, trade is disrupted, and energy prices are rising,” he said.
Baqaei further argued that Washington was attempting to make the international community bear the economic consequences of a crisis he said was created by the United States itself.
“The US is now trying to present the world with the bill for a disruption of its own making—and put Iran’s name on it,” he said.
The Iranian spokesperson said Washington was portraying the consequences of its own military actions as costs resulting from Iran’s behaviour.
“America started the war but expects the whole world to pay the bill, while portraying Iran as the one that caused this chaos,” Baqaei said, describing the claim as “utterly preposterous.”