Iran's foreign ministry spokesman on Saturday accused the United States and Israel of being directly responsible for the current turmoil in the Strait of Hormuz, labeling it the fallout of their "illegal actions."
Esmaeil Baghaei said that the vital waterway had been fully open before the U.S. and Israel launched the "illegal military operations" against Iran. He blamed the two countries for exploiting the strait and adjacent areas to orchestrate attacks on Iran, thereby triggering the present instability.
As a littoral state, Baghaei emphasized, Iran has both the right and the duty to take all necessary measures to protect its national interests and security.
He also condemned the U.S. maritime blockade against Iran as an act of aggression, noting that it violates the memorandum of understanding previously reached between the two sides.
Despite the U.S. obstruction, Baghaei added, negotiations between Iran and Oman are moving forward constructively. The two countries have already struck a deal on a navigation scheme for shipping lanes through the strait.
Iran blames US, Israel for Hormuz Strait instability
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened an investigation into Tesla's certification that its new Cybercab meets all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS).
The probe, formally designated as an Audit Query, was opened on Sept. 3 and covers an estimated 1,000 Cybercab vehicles, according to an NHTSA investigation document made public on Friday. It will examine the process and technical data Tesla relied upon when certifying the Cybercab, as well as related issues. Tesla began commercial deployment of a small number of Cybercab vehicles in Austin, Texas, on Thursday and notified the agency that it had certified the vehicles as compliant with all applicable FMVSS. Tesla also told the NHTSA that it plans to gradually expand commercial deployment of the Cybercab to include additional vehicles and locations.
The vehicles lack permanently attached conventional manual controls, such as a brake pedal, gas pedal, steering wheel and mirrors, according to the NHTSA.
The agency said the inquiry will examine, among other issues, the extent to which Tesla's certification depended on determinations that certain FMVSS are inapplicable to the Cybercab.
In the United States, the NHTSA establishes vehicle performance requirements, while automakers must certify that their vehicles meet applicable standards before entering the U.S. market, subject to agency oversight to confirm compliance. The NHTSA said it conducts investigations when certified vehicles appear not to adhere to those requirements.
U.S. regulator opens probe into Tesla Cybercab self-certification
