By imposing a naval blockade on Iran, accompanied by seizing merchant ships and detaining their crews, the US is in effect acting like pirates and terrorists, said Amir Saeed Eravani, the Islamic Republic's permanent representative to the United Nations.
„The United States has imposed a so-called naval blockade and is carrying out illegal actions, including seizing Iranian merchant ships in international waters and detaining their crews – "Such actions constitute piracy and hostage-taking," he told reporters.
“The United States is behaving like pirates and terrorists, attacking merchant ships through coercion and intimidation, terrorizing their crews, illegally seizing ships and detaining crew members.“
Iran's permanent representative pointed out that Tehran's actions in the Strait of Hormuz “are based on Iran's rights and obligations under the law of the sea and its own national laws and regulations“.
“The responsibility for any disruptions to maritime transport lies with the aggressors - the United States and its supporters. Any claim to the contrary is baseless,“ he concluded.