The Zionist regime, exploiting US warmongering and hegemonic illusions against Iran, and seeking to divert global attention from the Palestinian issue, has placed the destruction of Gaza and domination over the West Bank and Jerusalem at the center of its agenda. In yet another crime against humanity, it carried out a military assault to seize the civilian, humanitarian “Al-Sumoud” flotilla, which was solely carrying humanitarian aid.

This act, alongside once again exposing the regime’s terrorist and anti-human nature, reveals another shared trait with the US: maritime banditry. It also underscores the validity of Iran’s position regarding the need for calibrated management of the Strait of Hormuz until the complete withdrawal of the US from the region and the accountability of the Zionist regime.

Maritime Piracy: A Strategic Link Between Washington and Tel Aviv

A closer look at relations between the US and the Zionist regime shows that, beyond their shared record of killing, occupation, and violence, they also converge in another domain: maritime piracy.

The Zionist regime, by blocking entry points into Gaza and seizing humanitarian aid at land crossings, has committed wide-ranging acts amounting to crimes against humanity. It has repeatedly extended this conduct to the maritime domain as well, from the 2009 Mavi Marmara incident to successive Gaza-bound flotillas, including the Al-Sumoud flotilla, each representing episodes of maritime banditry carried out in clear violation of international and humanitarian law.

At the same time, the US, through sanctions that directly affect civilian lives and amount to collective harm, has in recent years added maritime seizures to its actions. This includes the confiscation of Iranian vessels under the pretext of enforcing pressure on Iran, in an effort to undermine the country’s economic and social resilience and compel it to yield to Washington’s demands.

Washington’s Double Standard on Gaza and Arming Israel

One of Donald Trump’s central claims has been to end the suffering of the people of Gaza and to establish a “new framework” for them, an idea he raised in Davos through the proposal of a Gaza Peace Council, speaking of billions of dollars in assistance.

However, evidence suggests that within this framework, an unequal allocation has been envisioned between Gaza and the Zionist regime. While the US continues to obstruct the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, the State Department has taken the unusual step of condemning the Global Resistance Flotilla carrying humanitarian supplies, describing it as unfounded and supportive of Hamas. Washington has also urged its allies to prevent the vessels from docking at ports.

In contrast, an “Israel first” policy has effectively supplanted the professed “America first” approach. The Israeli Ministry of Defense has announced that the US delivered approximately 6,500 tons of ammunition and military equipment to Israel within 24 hours. These shipments were transported via cargo vessels and military aircraft and form part of a broader flow of arms since the outbreak of the war. In effect, maritime and air transport networks are being deployed to sustain Israel’s military operations and occupation, while the same instruments are used against Palestinians to intensify the blockade and perpetuate the ongoing devastation.

Collapse of the “Freedom of Navigation” Narrative

The Al-Sumoud flotilla, while representing another embarrassment for the Zionist regime and US humanitarian claims, also sends a clear message to the world: the hollowness of Washington’s proposed “Freedom of Navigation Construct,” ostensibly aimed at countering Iran’s management of the Strait of Hormuz.

While the US speaks of “freedom of navigation,” it has simultaneously called on countries to condemn the flotilla’s movement toward Gaza and to deny it docking, departure, or refueling. This contradiction demonstrates that Washington’s objective is not genuine maritime freedom, but rather to shape it in line with its own strategic interests. On one hand, it seeks coalitions to restrict maritime access in the Palestinian context; on the other, it pursues coalitions aimed at undermining Iran’s sovereign rights in the Strait of Hormuz and consolidating its own influence over this strategic corridor.

Need to Reframe Maritime Security and Iran’s Role

The Zionist regime’s maritime piracy has been met with widespread global condemnation, yet some Western countries, still anchored in outdated assumptions, have limited themselves to expressions of concern. Without issuing explicit condemnation or taking concrete steps to hold the regime accountable, Anouar El Anouni, spokesperson for the European Commission’s foreign affairs service, stated that the European Union has once again called on Israel to respect international maritime law regarding the Al-Sumoud flotilla in the Mediterranean.

Such responses, coupled with the United Nations’ inaction in the face of maritime piracy by the US and the Zionist regime, once again highlight the validity of Iran’s position: the necessity of calibrated management of the Strait of Hormuz to ensure regional security, alongside the need for a global consensus on the withdrawal of the US from the region and the accountability of the Zionist regime.

Iran has consistently demonstrated both adherence to international law and a firm commitment to regional stability. Its current management of the Strait of Hormuz reflects this framework. The maritime piracy of the US and the Zionist regime underscores the urgency of confronting this trend, as global silence has fostered a false sense of impunity among their leaders regarding their actions, including at sea.

In this context, Iranian military officials have emphasized: “With painful, prolonged, and far-reaching strikes, we will respond to enemy operations, even if they are swift and short-lived, by God’s grace. We have already seen the fate of your hollow bases in the region; we will also see your ships.”