Iran Rejects US-GCC Position on Strait of Hormuz

A senior Iranian lawmaker has reaffirmed that the Strait of Hormuz is an inseparable part of Iran’s national sovereignty, rejecting a recent joint statement by the United States and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Ebrahim Azizi, head of Iran’s Parliament National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, described the US-backed declaration as “overt interference” in regional affairs and insisted that the management of the strategic waterway rests exclusively with the Islamic Republic.

The US-GCC statement was issued following talks in Manama, Bahrain, co-chaired by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani. Foreign ministers from Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates also participated in the meeting. The statement opposed any tolls, fees, or attempts to assert control over the Strait of Hormuz, stressing that free and unrestricted navigation is vital for regional and global security.

The exchange reflects continuing differences over the legal status and governance of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important maritime routes for energy exports. While Iran maintains that it holds primary responsibility for managing the waterway, the United States and its Gulf partners continue to emphasize the importance of maintaining freedom of navigation through the strategically significant passage.