Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs has warned that British and French warships operating in the Strait of Hormuz will face a “decisive and immediate response” from Iranian armed forces, as Tehran pushes back against the planned UK-France maritime security mission in the region, the UK Defence Journal understands.

Ali Gharibabadi, posting on X on 10 May, said the deployment of what he described as “extra-regional destroyers” around the strait under the pretext of protecting shipping amounted to escalation and militarisation of a vital waterway. The post, originally written in Persian, was translated by X’s automated translation system.

Gharibabadi argued that outside powers had no legitimate role in the strait, stating that any such deployment represented “nothing but an escalation of the crisis, the militarisation of a vital waterway, and an attempt to cover up the true root of insecurity in the region.”

He added that “maritime security cannot be ensured through displays of military power; especially not by actors who, through their support, participation, or silence in the face of aggression and siege, are themselves part of the problems.”

The Iranian official went further, setting out Tehran’s position on the underlying causes of regional instability. “The source of insecurity in the region lies in the illegal resort to force, the ongoing threats against coastal states, maritime sieges, and disregard for the United Nations Charter,” he wrote.

On the question of sovereignty, Gharibabadi was unambiguous. “The Strait of Hormuz is not the common property of extra-regional powers; it is a sensitive waterway adjacent to coastal states, and the exercise of sovereignty by the Islamic Republic of Iran over this strait and the determination of its legal arrangements is Iran’s right as a coastal state.”

Responding directly to French statements about the mission’s purpose, Gharibabadi said Tehran would not accept outside involvement regardless of how it was framed. “French officials have stated that their deployed warship is tasked with mine clearance and escorting ships once calm is restored. We remind them that, whether in times of war or peace, only the Islamic Republic of Iran can establish security in this strait and will not allow any country to interfere in such matters.”

The post concluded with a direct warning to all nations considering participation in the mission. “The presence of French and British warships, or those of any other country potentially accompanying the illegal and internationally unlawful actions of the United States in the Strait of Hormuz, will be met with a decisive and immediate response from the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Therefore, they are strongly advised not to complicate the situation further.”

The remarks come after the British government confirmed that HMS Dragon, a Type 45 destroyer, would deploy to the Middle East to pre-position ahead of the potential multinational mission to protect international shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The mission, jointly championed by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, has been described by the MoD as strictly defensive and independent, and is contingent on a cessation of fighting in the region before it proceeds.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most strategically important maritime chokepoints, through which a substantial proportion of global oil and gas exports transit.