In a post on his X account on Monday night, Esmaeil Baqaei reacted to US measures against vessels carrying Iranian oil, criticizing them as unlawful acts disguised as enforcement and warning of their consequences for international trade and the legal order governing the seas.
“This is the outright legalization of piracy and armed robbery on the high seas,” the Iranian spokesman said.
“Welcome to the return of the pirates — only now, they operate with government-issued warrants, sail under official flags, and call their plunder ‘law enforcement’,” he added.
“The United States must be held fully accountable for this brazenly lawless behavior, which strikes at the heart of international law & international free trade, and threatens the basic principles of maritime security,” Baqaei added.