Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters Spokesperson: Iran will counter any disruption to ship traffic

In these reports, two main themes stand out: first, Denis Citeronovich, the former head of the Iran desk at Israeli Military Intelligence, commented on the U.S. request for commercial ships to pay transit fees, saying it risks creating an awkward contradiction with the United States’ long-standing stance in defense of freedom of navigation. Second, the spokesman for the Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters warned that any disruption or insecurity in the passage of commercial and oil tankers by the U.S. military, outside Iran’s designated routes and without the armed forces’ authorization, would require a firm response. In the same set, he also warned the leaders of regional countries that any cooperation with or logistical support for the U.S. military would be regarded as war against Iran’s sovereignty and national security, and said that if the war expands, its fire will engulf the entire region.

• In all reported versions, Denis Citeronovich described the U.S. request for commercial ships to pay transit fees as an example of a contradiction with that country’s long-standing position in defense of freedom of navigation.
• In one account, the source is introduced as the “former head of the Iran desk in Israeli military intelligence,” while in the others, the same position is rendered as “Israeli Military Intelligence.”
• In the reports concerning Citeronovich, the main emphasis was on the political and legal consequences of this request for the U.S. image in defending freedom of navigation, rather than on its operational details.
• In one selected report, Citeronovich said that if Yemen’s response to Saudi attacks leads to disruption in Bab al-Mandab, the consequences for global energy markets would be on par with developments in Hormuz.
• The same source added that in that scenario, the main result for the global energy market would be higher oil prices.
• The spokesman for the Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters said that the Islamic Republic of Iran’s armed forces will deal firmly with any disruption or insecurity in the movement of commercial ships and tankers if this is carried out by the U.S. military and outside Iran’s designated routes and without authorization from the armed forces.
• In one account, the spokesman explicitly stated, “We will not allow the United States to interfere in the Strait of Hormuz.”
• He also warned the leaders of regional countries that any cooperation with or logistical support for the U.S. military would be regarded as war against Iran’s sovereignty and national security.
• In the same warning, responsibility for any insecurity and escalation of conflict in the region was placed on the United States and the countries cooperating with its military.
• In one report, the spokesman said that if the war expands, its fire will engulf the entire region.
• In domestic coverage, the main focus was on the threat to confront disruptions in transit