Iran Warns US Over Strait of Hormuz ‘This is Not Venezuela’

A senior Iranian military official has issued a sharp warning against US interference in the Strait of Hormuz, declaring that the Islamic Republic will not allow Washington to "plunder" regional resources.

Brigadier General Mohammad Jafar Asadi, deputy chief of inspections at the Khatam al-Anbia Central Headquarters, dismissed American claims to the strategic waterway. "The Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz belong to Iran and its neighbors. America has no right to interfere here," General Asadi stated.

The Strait of Hormuz remains the world's most critical oil transit chokepoint. With global energy markets already sensitive to Middle East instability, any friction in the channel carries significant international stakes.

General Asadi characterized US foreign policy as "grandiose" and shameful, asserting that regional affairs are entirely outside Washington's jurisdiction. He drew a sharp contrast with US actions in Latin America to underscore his point.

"We are telling America clearly—this is not Venezuela, where you go to loot resources," Asadi said. "Iran and its people will resist any such attempt."

The General’s comments reflect Tehran's long-standing stance that maritime security in the Gulf should be managed exclusively by regional states without Western military presence.