Iran says it will ‘facilitate and expedite’ humanitarian aid through Strait of Hormuz
Iran Says It Will ‘Facilitate and Expedite’ Humanitarian Aid Through Strait of Hormuz
On Friday, the Iranian ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Ali Bahreini, stated that Tehran has accepted a UN request to allow humanitarian aid and agricultural goods to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. This decision marks the first significant progress at the crucial waterway since the conflict began a month ago.
While the focus of markets and governments has primarily been on disrupted oil and gas supplies, the restriction of fertiliser access has raised concerns about global food security. “This measure reflects Iran’s continued commitment to supporting humanitarian efforts and ensuring essential aid reaches those in need without delay,” Bahreini added in a post on X.
“Attack contradicts POTUS extended deadline for diplomacy,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on X, referring to U.S. President Donald Trump. “Iran will exact HEAVY price for Israeli crimes.”
The UN had previously announced a task force to tackle the effects of the Iran war on aid delivery. This came just hours after Iranian state media revealed that two nuclear facilities had been targeted. Israel claimed responsibility for the strikes, and Iran swiftly threatened retaliation.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned of a response, with Seyed Majid Moosavi, commander of the IRGC’s Aerospace Force, urging employees of U.S.- and Israel-linked companies to leave their workplaces. “This time, the equation will no longer be ‘an eye for an eye,’ just wait,” he said.
Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation identified the Shahid Khondab Heavy Water Complex in Arak and the Ardakan yellowcake plant in Yazd Province as the attack sites. The strikes caused no casualties or contamination risks, according to IRNA. The Arak plant, already damaged in a June attack, remains non-operational.
“IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi reiterates (his) call for military restraint to avoid any risk of a nuclear accident,” the International Atomic Energy Agency said on X, noting “no increase in off-site radiation levels” at the sites.
Diplomats from Pakistan and Turkey attempted to arrange a direct meeting between U.S. and Iranian envoys. Meanwhile, G7 foreign ministers in France called for an immediate stop to attacks on civilians and infrastructure.
As tensions persist, U.S. ships are nearing the region, carrying over 2,500 Marines and 1,000 paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne. These troops are trained to secure key positions and airfields in hostile areas. However, Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that most U.S. objectives in Iran are “ahead of schedule” and can be achieved without deploying ground forces.
