UN emphasizes maritime freedom, political rights amid Iran tensions

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The United Nations on Wednesday stressed the importance of maritime freedom and the protection of the political rights of the Iranian Kurdish opposition groups.

In response to a question from Rudaw’s Namo Abdulla regarding on the latest developments, Farhan Haq, deputy spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Gueterres, addressed reports that Tehran is seeking to impose fees on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, an unprecedented move following the US-Iran ceasefire.

“The talks concerning strengthening the ceasefire are still happening. We hope that the ceasefire will be stabilized and will last beyond two weeks. So that is our current priority,” he said.

The UN top official added, “Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, we've repeatedly said, and this is the Secretary-General's point of principle, that there needs to be freedom of movement for all marine vessels.”

Haq’s remarks come after Iran reportedly blocked vessel passage through the strategic waterway, after Israel on Wednesday said its forces targeted “more than 100 Hezbollah headquarters, military arrays, and command-and-control centers in Beirut, the Beqaa Valley, and southern Lebanon.”

Beirut condemned the attacks with its health ministry reporting late Wednesday that Israeli strikes had caused “182 deaths and 890 injuries,” mostly civilians, according to preliminary figures.

For its part, Tehran has labelled the Israeli strikes in Lebanon a violation of the ongoing ceasefire with the United States, which it insists “includes Lebanon” - a claim Tel Aviv and Washington have contested.

Asked about Iran’s call for Iraq and the Kurdistan Region to expel Iranian Kurdish opposition parties based in the Region, Haq declined to comment on bilateral relations but emphasized a broader principle.

“Without getting into bilateral relations between the two countries, our point of principle is that people should not be made to suffer for their political views or their political activism,” he said.

The comments follow a statement from Iran’s Consulate General in Erbil accusing Iranian Kurdish opposition groups of cooperating with US and Israeli forces against Tehran.

“The reckless president of the United States [Donald Trump]… openly spoke about the alliance and cooperation of US military and intelligence forces with certain Kurdish opposition and separatist groups in the region,” the statement read.

“Trump’s remarks revealed how these groups secretly cooperate with the United States and the [Israeli] Zionist regime.”

The ceasefire between Washington and Tehran came after 39 days of war that began on February 28, when the US and Israel launched a large-scale military campaign against Iran.

The confrontation triggered retaliatory attacks across the region, including strikes by Iran-backed groups on alleged US interests and Iranian Kurdish opposition parties in the Kurdistan Region.