KUALA LUMPUR, June 26 (Bernama) -- The Strait of Hormuz was never closed during the 12-day attack on Iran, said Iranian Ambassador to Malaysia Valiollah Mohammadi Nasrabadi.
He said Iran always tries to keep the Persian Gulf and the region "quiet, under control, and in the best possible security", as it is an energy trade hub.
"There are no obstacles to movement to and from Hormuz. It remains open. Unfortunately, there is a lot of propaganda," he told the media at the Iranian embassy on Thursday.
The Strait of Hormuz plays a crucial role in global energy and trade, acting as a strategic passageway for oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments from the Middle East.
This narrow waterway, linking the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, handles a significant share of the world's energy supply, with about one-third of maritime crude oil exports and around 20 per cent of global oil use transported through it each day.
The Strait of Hormuz serves as a significant conduit for the daily transport of around 20 million barrels of oil and petroleum products, much of which is destined for Asian markets, particularly China.
A large share of Iran's oil exports to China also flows through this critical maritime route.
The ambassador said that during the 12-day attack on Iran, daily life and business continued as usual, with the banks still operating and people on the streets chanting anti-Israel slogans whenever they saw missiles.
“They (Israel) want to do damage to us, but the attacks have united the Iranians in the country and around the world," he said.
Valiollah noted that after 10 days of attacks on Iran, 12 provinces were affected, nine hospitals were damaged, and more than 400 Iranians lost their lives.
Regional tension escalated in the Middle East since June 13 after Israel launched coordinated air strikes on multiple sites across Iran, including nuclear facilities, prompting Tehran to launch retaliatory strikes.
The conflict escalated further when the US conducted aerial attacks on three Iranian nuclear sites in Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan.
On June 24, US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between Iran and Israel.
-- BERNAMA
