Iran has sharply criticised the European Union over its stance on transit rules in the Strait of Hormuz, accusing the bloc of double standards amid rising tensions tied to the ongoing conflict between Iran and the United States. Foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei described European references to international law as selective and called the position 'peak hypocrisy.'

Baghaei argued that, as a coastal state, Iran has the right to regulate movement through the strategic waterway and to take necessary measures to prevent it from being used for military aggression against the country. He rejected the notion of unconditional transit passage under current conditions, saying that recent military activity near the strait had changed the situation.

The remarks followed comments by the European Union foreign policy chief, who stressed that key maritime routes must remain open and warned that any pay for passage system would set a dangerous global precedent. Iran has suggested it may prioritise vessels willing to pay fees and has warned that the strait will not fully reopen unless the United States lifts its naval blockade on Iranian ports, deepening concerns over global energy supplies.