Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has insisted that the Strait of Hormuz is not blocked, placing the blame for the “escalating danger” in the waterway squarely on the US and Israel, Al Jazeera reports.

Iran has “adopted a set of measures to ensure that the aggressors and their supporters cannot misuse the Strait of Hormuz to advance their aggressive objectives against Iran”, the ministry has said in a statement, emphasising that the Strait “is not closed, and maritime traffic … has not been halted”.

“The responsibility for any disruption, insecurity, and escalating danger in this waterway and its surrounding region lies directly with the US regime and the Zionist regime (Israel)”, the statement continued.

The “full restoration of security” in the Strait “requires an end to the military aggression, the cessation of threats, the halt of destabilising actions … and full respect for Iran’s legitimate interests”, the ministry concluded.