Iran’s embassy in Austria sharply criticized EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas on Friday over her comments on the Strait of Hormuz crisis, accusing her of hypocrisy and legal inconsistency.
The embassy’s remarks came after Kallas reportedly told Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi that restoring “toll-free freedom of navigation” in the strategic waterway was “an urgent priority,” while blaming Iranian attacks on civilian ships for severely disrupting maritime traffic.
In a pair of posts published online, the Iranian mission accused Kallas of ignoring what it described as “the aggressive attacks by the American-Israeli evil coalition against Iran” while condemning Tehran’s actions, which it characterized as defensive.
The embassy also challenged Kallas on legal grounds, saying she had urged Iran to respect the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, despite the fact that Iran is not a party to the treaty.
In unusually blunt language, the embassy further questioned the quality of Kallas’ advisers, accusing them of acting as political loyalists rather than offering sound counsel.
The diplomatic attack also referenced Iran’s position on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), arguing that Tehran had continued to comply with the treaty even though, according to the embassy, its “peaceful, safeguarded nuclear facilities” had still come under attack.
The exchange reflects growing tensions between Iran and European officials amid the broader regional crisis triggered by the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran, and continued disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
The waterway remains a critical route for global energy supplies, with ongoing instability there contributing to higher oil prices and wider concerns over global trade and economic security.
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