Lithuanian president warns Iran may retain Hormuz strategy

VILNIUS - Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said on Tuesday that even if conflict between the US, Israel and Iran ends, it is naïve to expect Tehran to abandon the Strait of Hormuz as a strategic tool.

"From recent events, we see that Iran has understood very well what a powerful instrument and weapon it holds in its hands," Nauseda told the 15min news portal on Tuesday.

"To expect that Iran will not seek to control and use the Hormuz Strait card more decisively in the future, even after this crisis ends, would unfortunately be quite naive. I believe this is a major consequence of this war that will have to be dealt with for a long time," Nauseda said.

He added that the current situation looks "very poor" and can no longer be resolved quickly or smoothly.

Nauseda's remarks follow a warning from US President Donald Trump that an "entire civilisation will perish" if Iran ignores his ultimatum to accept US military demands.

According to Nauseda, developments in the Middle East have created friction within NATO, which he described as extremely dangerous.

On Monday, Trump criticised NATO allies for failing to support the US in the conflict with Iran. He previously hinted at the possibility of withdrawing from the 77-year-old military alliance.

Nauseda stressed that the NATO organisation must be handled "very carefully."

"The suggestion that the US could leave NATO sounds quite frightening. We must do everything to ensure NATO remains, because without the US, there is no NATO as we know it; what remains would be a completely different organization," he said.