Iran warns against escalation in Strait of Hormuz, says no military solution

International, Middle East

INTERNATIONAL (NPA) — Iran has reiterated that there is no military solution to the growing tensions in the Strait of Hormuz involving the United States, warning that further escalation could plunge the region into a deeper crisis.

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said on Monday that recent developments in the strategic waterway underscored the need for political dialogue rather than military confrontation.

“Events in Hormuz make clear that there’s no military solution to a political crisis,” Araghchi stated, adding that diplomatic talks were making progress through mediation efforts led by Pakistan.

He also cautioned the United States and the United Arab Emirates against being drawn into what he described as a regional “quagmire” by “ill-wishers.”

Araghchi dismissed the “Project Freedom” initiative announced by Donald Trump, describing it instead as “Project Deadlock.”

Earlier, Trump accused Iran of targeting vessels belonging to countries not directly involved in the dispute, including a South Korean cargo ship, and suggested that Seoul should participate in the maritime security initiative.

The U.S. president further claimed that American forces had destroyed seven Iranian “fast boats,” stating: “It’s all they have left.”

Trump also rejected Iranian claims that Tehran had successfully struck a U.S. military vessel, saying that apart from the South Korean cargo ship incident, “there has been, at this moment, no damage going through the Strait.”

He added that U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine would address a news conference on Tuesday morning to provide additional details on the situation.

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical oil transit routes, and rising tensions in the area continue to raise fears of wider regional instability and disruptions to global energy supplies.