Iran’s Foreign Ministry on Friday strongly rejected the recent joint statement issued by the United States and the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (PGCC) following their ministerial meeting, labeling it as "interventionist, irresponsible and provocative." Tehran accused Washington of attempting to impose its security agenda on the region and criticized the declaration’s focus on Iran’s missile and drone programs, as well as its alleged support for regional proxy groups.

The US-PGCC statement emphasized opposition to Iran’s attempts to control navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway, and reaffirmed support for “free, unconditional and unrestricted” maritime transit. It also linked any future economic engagement with Iran to Tehran’s compliance with a recent memorandum of understanding (MoU) and cessation of what Washington described as destabilizing activities. Iranian officials countered that the statement failed to address the US’s inability to uphold parts of the MoU, particularly regarding Lebanon.

In its response, Iran’s Foreign Ministry accused the United States of perpetuating instability through longstanding military deployments across West Asia, which Tehran said have exacerbated regional divisions and militarization. The ministry cited recent US-Israeli military operations conducted from bases in several regional countries between February and April as evidence of Washington's disregard for regional security and sovereignty. Iran called on those host countries to reconsider their security policies and urged adherence to international law and principles of good neighborliness to prevent their soil from being used for aggression.

On nuclear issues, Iran rejected renewed accusations against its peaceful program, denouncing them as fabricated allegations promoted by the US and Israel. Tehran advocated for a nuclear-weapon-free zone in West Asia, linking regional security to the denuclearization of Israel, which it described as possessing an undeclared nuclear arsenal.

Tehran also dismissed the US-PGCC references to its ballistic missile program, drone capabilities, and support for resistance groups in Palestine and Lebanon. Iran maintained that portraying it as the main source of instability is politically motivated, serving as a pretext to justify a continued American military presence and increased arms sales in the region. It rejected characterizing Palestinian and Lebanese resistance movements as Iranian proxies, framing their activities as legitimate struggles under international law.

The Strait of Hormuz again emerged as a focal point of contention. Iran asserted that the United States, Israel, and allied regional states supporting recent military actions bear responsibility for instability in this crucial maritime corridor. Tehran reaffirmed that the Strait falls within the territorial waters of Iran and Oman and pointed to the navigation protocols outlined in the March MoU, which ended recent hostilities, as the operational mechanism governing shipping management in the area.

This diplomatic friction follows an attack on a commercial vessel near Oman that heightened global concerns over maritime security and raised questions about the implementation of the US-Iran memorandum. Iran insists on its right, as a littoral state, to coordinate maritime traffic management with Oman and warned against external interference.

Despite tensions, commercial shipping through the Strait has continued under Tehran’s stated navigation arrangements. Iranian officials have emphasized that their intent is to regulate rather than halt maritime traffic. Recent maritime tracking data showed ongoing vessel transits, albeit at a reduced pace since the recent incident. For example, a tanker carrying approximately two million barrels of crude oil departed the Strait on Thursday, and Saudi Arabia recently resumed crude shipments from its Ras Tanura export terminal after nearly four months. Intelligence monitoring indicated 13 tankers passed the Strait on Friday, down from 24 the previous day, reflecting caution but no closure. The US Central Command noted that over 55 vessels carrying more than 17 million barrels of crude successfully transited the Strait in a single day earlier in the week, underscoring the continuation of Gulf energy exports amid heightened regional tensions.

In closing, Iran urged PGCC members to reconsider their alignment with US policies, emphasizing that sustainable regional peace and security require cooperation among neighboring states without foreign military involvement. Tehran reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and defense capabilities in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.