DUBAI — Iran on Monday issued one of its strongest warnings to Europe yet over reported plans to deploy naval forces near the Strait of Hormuz, as details of Tehran’s response to the latest US proposal emerged with significant gaps remaining between the two sides. The warning comes amid reports that the United Kingdom and France are considering increased naval activity to protect shipping routes, while Iran insists it alone has the right to secure the strait. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said European nations should “refrain from making any move that would undermine their interests,” arguing that any military intervention in the Gulf would push energy prices higher and create further complications. “This war is not only unethical but it is also unlawful. The US and Israel started their aggression against Iran. These European countries shouldn’t be fooled in order to get into this matter,” he said. The UK and France will on Tuesday host a multinational meeting of defense ministers on military plans to restore trade flows through the Strait of Hormuz, the British government said. “Defense Secretary John Healey will co-chair a meeting of over 40 nations, alongside his French counterpart, Minister Catherine Vautrin, for the multinational mission’s first Defence Minister’s meeting,” a British defense ministry statement said. French President Emmanuel Macron has clarified that France had “never envisaged” deploying warships to the Strait of Hormuz, following Iran’s warning of a “decisive and immediate response” to any foreign naval presence in the strategic waterway. Speaking at a news conference in Nairobi during an African summit, Macron said France’s mission was strictly a security operation, to be coordinated with Iran and regional partners. Macron stressed that France opposes any blockade from either side and called for unimpeded shipping through the strait, a critical corridor through which most Middle Eastern oil is exported. “The whole continent is a victim of the blockade,” he said. Iranian state agency IRNA reported that Tehran delivered its response to Washington via Pakistani mediation. Al Mayadeen and the Wall Street Journal, citing unnamed sources, described a multi-page document outlining Iran’s position, though both reported that significant gaps remain. According to the reports, Iran is proposing an initial halt to hostilities linked to easing maritime restrictions, followed by phased nuclear discussions over a 30-day period. Tehran has also proposed diluting part of its highly enriched uranium and transferring remaining stockpiles to a third country, while rejecting full dismantlement of its nuclear infrastructure and seeking guarantees that transferred materials would be returned if talks collapsed. Iran is also said to have conditionally accepted a temporary pause in enrichment, shorter than the long-term suspension the US has demanded, alongside calls for sanctions relief and compensation for war-related damages. An unnamed Iranian source cited by IRGC-linked Tasnim news agency rejected parts of the Wall Street Journal report as inaccurate. Baghaei confirmed Iran’s core demands, describing them as “legitimate and reasonable”: the release of frozen assets, an end to what Tehran calls US “maritime piracy” against Iranian vessels, and guarantees of safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. He also said any agreement must include a ceasefire in Lebanon, which he described as a red line for Iran. US President Donald Trump, speaking shortly before rejecting Iran’s response as “unacceptable,” said Washington would gain access to Iran’s enriched uranium stockpiles and warned of possible military action if relevant sites were approached. On a proposal by Russian President Vladimir Putin that Iran’s enriched uranium could be transferred to Russia, Baghaei said Iran’s focus at this stage was on ending the war. “As for what decisions will be taken later regarding the nuclear issue, Iran’s materials, and matters related to enrichment, and what options we may consider, these are issues that we will address when the time comes,” he said. Baghaei also criticized IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, who had said even the war had failed to destroy Iran’s nuclear programme and called for immediate access to nuclear sites. Baghaei questioned whether Iran’s facilities had ever been expected to survive a military strike and said Grossi’s remarks confirmed that he had abandoned his technical mandate. He said restoring the IAEA’s credibility required Grossi to explicitly condemn the US and Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities and to commit to preventing their recurrence.
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