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Presenter warns normalizing control of an international waterway would set a precedent
Summary
A presenter warned that recognizing a countrys claim to control an international waterway would set a precedent likely to be repeated elsewhere and said nations must back opposition to such claims with more than diplomatic statements; the speaker said they were awaiting a response from Iranians that day.
A presenter argued that nations must decide whether to "normalize" a country that claims control over an international waterway, saying that doing so would establish a precedent likely to be repeated in other places. "But the fundamental question every country, not Italy, every country needs to ask themselves is, are you gonna normalize a country claiming to control an international waterway?" the presenter said.
The presenter warned that normalizing such a claim would encourage similar moves elsewhere and urged stronger measures than "strongly worded statements" if countries choose not to accept the claim. "And if the answer is no, we don't wanna normalize it, then you better have something more than just strongly worded statements to back it up," the presenter said.
The remarks noted ongoing diplomatic engagement: the presenter said they were "waiting to hear" from Iranians later that day about a prospective deal and emphasized that their comments reflected positions raised during recent visits. "This I didn't come to Italy just to make that point," the presenter said, adding that the point would be made to "any country that complains about the straits."
