This was one of the clear results of your work. You showed that the high seas belong to everyone. [They say,] “We do not allow certain ships to pass through certain straits.” That is absolute nonsense. Why? It belongs to everyone. Everyone should be able to travel through it. The high seas belong to everyone. The sea and the air must be free for all nations. Security for shipping and maritime transport must be ensured for all countries. Today, the US attacks oil tankers and helps maritime smugglers. What they are doing is a large violation. They do this in our region, and we are aware that they are doing this more or less in other places as well. These are violations of a human international law that cannot be disregarded.
Imam Khamenei
May 1, 1991
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