Aref at meeting with Russian prime minister: To protect our security, we have no choice but to assert sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz

Dr Mohammad-Reza Aref, First Vice President of Iran, said in a meeting with Mikhail Mishustin, Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, that recent developments in the region and the US and Israeli military aggression against Iran are part of a wider plan to weaken independent countries.

Aref said Iran has no choice but to assert sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz in order to protect its security, and added that under Iranian sovereignty, safe and peaceful passage for ships from friendly countries would be possible. He also warned against the Caspian Sea becoming a new centre of insecurity and described the development of ports and transport links as one of Iran's priorities.

The Russian prime minister said relations between Tehran and Moscow are based on good-neighbourliness and cooperation, strongly condemned the US and Israeli military aggression against Iran, and stressed the importance of expanding economic and cultural ties between the two countries.