Iran has warned oil tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz to be careful

A spokesman for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned on Monday that oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz “should be very careful”.

Spokesman Esmail Baghai defended Iran’s attack on the Gulf states, telling CNBC’s Dan Murphy that targeting “military bases and assets” belonging to the United States in the region was “legal under international law.”

Crude oil prices have crossed $100 a barrel as the Strait of Hormuz is effectively closed.

“As long as the situation is insecure, I think all tankers, all sea navigation should be very careful,” said Baghai, who also heads the Center for Public Diplomacy.

He said Iran was preparing for “whatever time it takes” against the US and Israel and that his nation was preparing for every possible scenario, including a possible ground invasion.

Baghai predicted that Iran would “totalize” new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who over the weekend elected his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on the first day of the US and Israeli war against Iran.

“State institutions, people, officials, all have shown that they will unite around the new leadership,” Baghai said.

He dismissed US President Donald Trump’s suggestion that the United States should have any say in choosing Iran’s leader.

“I think the fundamental principle of international law and civilization is that the nation decides for itself, free from foreign interference,” Baghai said. “I think it’s the absolute, unique right of Iranians to decide about their leadership, their system, and it’s absolutely illegal for any politician, any person outside of Iran, to tell who should rule Iran.

Asked why Iran has targeted Gulf states by attacking desalination plants in Bahrain, oil refineries in Saudi Arabia and civilian infrastructure in the United Arab Emirates, Baghai said. “We are only defending our country against invaders.”

“What we are doing against military bases and assets belonging to aggressors belonging to the United States in this region is legal under international law,” he said. “We defend ourselves under Article 51 of the UN Charter. And all military bases, installations and assets used in any form or manner to assist an aggressor are considered legitimate targets.”