Iran Rejects Paying for Mine Removal in Strait of Hormuz

Iran has rejected statements made by German Foreign Minister Johan Wadenfuhl, who called on Tehran to bear the expenses of any potential European operation aimed at clearing naval mines from the Strait of Hormuz.

Ismail Baqaei, spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, posted on the platform X on Monday, describing the German minister's comments about the strait as "a distortion of facts and political manipulation." He also accused Berlin of supporting military actions against Tehran.

Baqaei's remarks came as a response to Wadenfuhl's appeal for Iran to assume the costs arising from the deployment of naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz.

Wadenfuhl noted that any possible European operation would not necessarily require Iran to make immediate payments, but that Tehran remains responsible for the costs involved.

He explained that carrying out a mine clearance mission requires several conditions, including achieving a permanent ceasefire, obtaining approval from the countries bordering the strait, and completing the necessary legal procedures within the participating nations.

The Strait of Hormuz is considered one of the world's most crucial maritime routes, with a significant portion of global oil and gas exports passing through it. Concerns about the presence of naval mines there have raised international alarm due to their potential impact on navigation and global energy supplies.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced days ago that Germany is dispatching two vessels to the Red Sea in preparation for a possible military mission in the Strait of Hormuz.

France and the United Kingdom are advocating for the formation of a multinational naval mission, but diplomats report that Iran has strongly opposed any foreign military presence in the waterway.

The exact number of mines that Iran may have deployed in the strait remains unclear. Before the conflict, the strait typically handled about 20% of the daily global supplies of oil and liquefied natural gas.