Iran warns US against closing Strait of Hormuz

NEW YORK, April 24 (KUNA) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif warned the United States against attempting to close the Strait of Hormuz between the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
If the United States tries to stop Iran from using Strait of Hormuz to transport its oil exports, Tehran will continue to find international buyers for its oil and Washington "should prepare for consequences," he stressed.
Zarif was addressing the UN General Assembly annual Conference on "International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace." He affirmed that US President Donald Trump cannot force Iran into signing a new nuclear deal, referring to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), reached by Iran and the P5+1 (China France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States) on July 14, 2015.
"We have kept our word in spite of the failure of the western participants of JCPOA to provide the promised economic dividends to our people following the unlawful US withdrawal," IRNA news agency quoted him as saying.
"I don't need to list the extensive, unlawful unilateralist policies of this US Administration towards my country or our region, but here is just a glimpse: extraterritorial imposition of domestic legislations; flouting of international accords and ICJ orders; arbitrary designation of armed forces of a sovereign state as "terrorist;" breeding radicalization through reckless and pointless forever wars; shielding of terror-sponsoring clients from their war crimes; and recognition of illegal and racist annexations," he said. "As if this lawlessness is not enough, the US also punishes those who seek to fulfill their obligations under Security Council Resolution 2231- which calls for normalization of economic relations with Iran. "To defend multilateralism, it is imperative to deny the US any perceived benefit from its unlawful actions, and to forcefully reject any pressure it brings to bear on others to violate international law and Security Council resolutions. "And in rejecting unilateralism, we all have a responsibility to collectively hold any government accountable for the consequences of any lawlessness," he added.
In last November, Washington renewed the oil sanctions on Iran six months after the US pulled out from the landmark JCPOA clear deal, and gave eight countries - China, India, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Turkey, Italy and Greece - a six-month waiver from the measures.
On Monday, the US administration that the waivers for Iranian oil exports would expire on May 2. (end) asf.gb