Iran Assures Safe Passage for Bangladeshi Ships Through the Strait of Hormuz
Iran has assured Bangladesh of assistance in ensuring the safe passage of Bangladesh-flagged commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. The assistance will be provided through prior coordination, said Iranian Ambassador to Bangladesh Jalil Rahimi.
He gave the assurance at a press conference held at the Iranian Embassy in Dhaka on Wednesday (November 4).
Mr. Rahimi said Iran was not involved in the attacks taking place in the Strait of Hormuz. He said Iran could not directly ensure the security of energy shipments for Bangladesh or any other country. However, as a gesture of friendship with Bangladesh, Iran would provide all possible assistance to ensure the safe passage of Bangladesh-flagged commercial vessels through prior coordination.
Referring to the people of Bangladesh as Muslim brothers and sisters, the Iranian ambassador thanked them for their support on various global issues and reiterated his assurance of assistance for the safe passage of Bangladeshi ships through the strait.
He blamed the United States for the economic pressure and rising prices caused by tensions in the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz. However, as a gesture of friendship during the crisis, Iran would provide all possible assistance to Bangladesh-flagged commercial vessels travelling through the Strait of Hormuz, subject to prior coordination, he said.
Mr. Rahimi also expressed satisfaction with the position taken by the people of Bangladesh on Iran. He said the Bangladesh government’s position on the issue was reasonable despite various constraints. He added that Iran was pleased with the views and support of the Bangladeshi people.
On the possibility of an understanding with the United States and Israel, Mr. Rahimi said any such agreement would amount to surrender, which Iran would never accept. He said Iran was fully prepared to respond with full force if the United States or Israel launched any attack. However, he added that Iran did not want to initiate any war or conflict.
Saying that Iran had no dispute with the Arab countries of the Middle East, he said Iran would never attack any Arab country unless its territory was used to launch an attack on Iran from US military bases there.
Declaring the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah as Iran’s “red lines”, he proposed a “Makkah Agreement” to ensure regional security without Western intervention.
The ambassador also outlined the historical background of the conflict between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthi rebels. He said the conflict predated Iran’s Islamic Revolution.
However, he said Iran had strong political and spiritual support for Yemen’s Houthis, Palestine’s Hamas, Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Iraq’s Popular Mobilisation Forces (Hashd al-Shaabi) because of their opposition to the United States and Israel.
