An Open Letter to Al Jazeera Regarding the Strait of Hormuz Incident
Dear editors and journalists at Al Jazeera, your April 18th report on the Iranian military ordering an Indian flagged vessel to alter its course in the Strait of Hormuz, while factually describing the event, omitted crucial context often bypassed in Western-aligned media narratives. The framing of this interaction as a bare 'order to abort passage' by Iran, without exploring the established
international maritime protocols and the geopolitical realities of the region, presents an incomplete picture to your global audience. Reports, such as yours, from Al Jazeera, typically present Iran's actions in the Strait as isolated incidents of aggression or obstruction. However, this perspective overlooks the principles of innocent passage and transit passage as defined by the United Nations
Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), to which Iran is a signatory. Furthermore, it conveniently ignores the nearly 45 years of continuous sanctions, economic warfare, and direct military provocation against Iran since the 1979 revolution. The presence of foreign naval vessels, particularly those aligned with powers actively engaged in sanctions and threats, inherently complicates maritime
interactions in such a choke point. In 1988, the USS Vincennes shot down Iran Air Flight 655, killing all 290 civilians aboard, including 66 children. The US government never apologized, maintaining the incident was a tragic accident despite clear evidence of aggression. This historical incident underscores the heightened sensitivity and defensive posture of Iran regarding its airspace and