'Iran must never possess nuclear weapons; freedom of navigation in Hormuz must be respected': US State Dept Spox
By Sahil Pandey, London, July 9
The United States on Thursday reiterated its stance that Tehran cannot acquire nuclear weapons and must continue to respect the freedom of navigation via the Strait of Hormuz.
The remarks were made by the US State Department's Hindustani Spokesperson, Margaret MacLeod, amid the backdrop of recent developments in West Asia.
Macleod told ANI, "What we are seeing right now is Iran attacking non-military vessels, and the US administration is responding to that. President Trump has a wide range of options, and I cannot preview potential US military action. However, our primary objectives have always been clear: Iran must never possess nuclear weapons, and freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz must be respected."
Meanwhile, speaking about the recently concluded NATO Summit in Turkiye, Macleod underlined that the sentiment of Iran not acquiring nuclear weapons was also reflected at the transatlantic summit.
"Regarding Iran, the allies stated that Iran must never possess nuclear weapons and must not be able to seize control of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital international maritime route," she said.
On the front of the Ukraine conflict, she said that Kyiv is utilising assistance from Europe and Canada.
" On the issue of Ukraine, the consensus was that NATO would provide support, though the bulk of the burden would be borne by European nations and Canada...We are sending weapons for Ukraine's security, and Ukraine is utilising this equipment with financial assistance from Europe and Canada. To address the Iran issue, we are cooperating through our bilateral treaties."
She noted how 'unity' emerged as the central theme at the NATO Summit in Turkiye, with members reaffirming Article 5 of the Washington Treaty- the foundation of NATO, which means that an attack on one is an attack on all.
"We will stand together and cooperate for our shared security," MacLeod said.
— ANI
Reader Comments
As someone who follows global politics, I think the US is right to be firm on Iran's nuclear ambitions. The Strait of Hormuz is a choke point for oil shipments, and India depends heavily on that route. If Iran blocks it, our economy will suffer. So yes, freedom of navigation is non-negotiable. 🇺🇸🇮🇳
Interesting how the US talks about 'unity' at NATO but then unilaterally withdraws from the Iran nuclear deal. How can we trust them to handle this responsibly? India needs to maintain a balanced approach - we have good relations with Iran AND the West. Don't pick sides, that's my view. 🤔
The US State Department spokesperson is just doing her job. Iran has been violating international norms by attacking non-military vessels. That's a clear red line. India's own maritime interests align with keeping Hormuz open. I support the US stance here, but I hope diplomacy prevails over military action. 🙏
Arre yaar, why is everyone ignoring the elephant in the room? India's Chabahar Port is crucial for our trade with Central Asia, and Iran is a key partner. The US needs to understand that not every country can just cut ties with Iran overnight. We have our own national interests to protect. 🇮🇳
The NATO summit in Turkiye sounds like a lot of talk, but what concrete action? 'Unity' is nice, but the allies couldn't even agree on troop deployments. And Ukraine getting weapons from Europe and Canada is fine, but where is the US commitment? This
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.