'If It Has A Backbone, It Won't Stand For It': US Warns Iran Against Attempt To Disrupt Hormuz

Published 3 July 2026 · world

'If It Has A Backbone, It Won't Stand For It': US Warns Iran Against Attempt To Disrupt Hormuz Published By, Last Updated: July 03, 2026

'If It Has A Backbone, It Won't Stand For It': US Warns Iran Against Attempt To Disrupt Hormuz Published By, Last Updated: July 03, 2026, 07:25 IST US Ambassador Mike Waltz warned Iran against disrupting the Strait of Hormuz, stating that 'threatening commercial vessels is not justified under the UN Charter' U.S. Ambassador to UN Mike Waltz warns Iran against any attempt to disrupt the Strait of Hormuz (File image source: AFP) U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz issued a stark warning to Iran against any attempt to disrupt the Strait of Hormuz, stressing that “threatening commercial vessels cannot be justified under the UN Charter." The comments came as the United States and Iran remain engaged in negotiations over a framework to end the war in West Asia, with the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz –– which accounts for nearly one-fifth of the global oil and gas trade –– emerging as a major sticking point. Speaking during an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council convened at Bahrain’s request, Waltz said: “Our message to the Iranian regime is clear: closing international waterways is not self-defence." Urging the UN Council to hold Iran accountable over its actions, the U.S. envoy said threatening commercial vessels “cannot be justified under the UN Charter“.

“If it has a backbone, it won’t stand for it", Waltz said. ‘Did Singapore Attack Iran’? Accusing Iran of targeting civilian infrastructure and commercial vessels crossing the Strait of Hormuz, Waltz cited recent attacks involving Singaporean- and Panama-flagged vessels. “I ask, did the Singaporean air force or military attack Tehran or attack Iran? No, but yet Iran attacked a Singaporean-flagged commercial vessel. We have the ambassador here from Panama. Panamanian-flagged vessels were attacked just this last week. Did Panama attack Iran? Is that self-defense against Panama?" he asked. In strongly-worded remarks against Tehran, Waltz urged the country to resort to peace and dialogue: “There’s an old scripture that says, ‘I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse.’ Iran cannot keep choosing death and curse. And today we once again urge Iran to revert to the path of peace and dialogue. The world is not with Iran. Iran’s own people are not with this regime, and its neighbors are not with this regime." Claiming the negotiations with Washington would furnish Iran a “real, transformative, positive" opportunity, the U.S. envoy warned President Donald Trump’s patience is “not unlimited".

I cannot stress enough the possibility of real transformative positive opportunity for the nation and people of Iran is on the table, but President Trump’s patience is not unlimited.The world cannot continue to suffer, and Iran must abide by its obligations to this Council… pic.twitter.com/E3eqCXOOiZ — Ambassador Mike Waltz (@USAmbUN) July 2, 2026 “I cannot stress enough the possibility of real transformative positive opportunity for the nation and people of Iran is on the table, but President Trump’s patience is not unlimited. The world cannot continue to suffer, and Iran must abide by its obligations to this Council that this Council voted for without opposition, and the world must hold this regime to account", he said. U.S.-Iran Negotiations Negotiators from Iran and the United States concluded talks in Qatar’s Doha on Wednesday, with discussions focusing on the restoration of maritime traffic through Hormuz and unfreezing of Iranian funds. However, neither side indicated towards a progress towards a broader settlement to end the conflict. The next round of discussions is scheduled to be held after the burial ceremony of Iran’s slain Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on July 9.