The U.S. maritime blockade against Iran has violated international law and heightened tensions, said Iran's permanent representative to the United Nations (UN), Amir Saeid Iravani, Monday at a UN Security Council's open debate on the safety and protection of waterways in the maritime domain.

Since February 28, military actions by the United States and Israel against Iran have disrupted shipping security in the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Gulf of Oman, said Iravani.

The Strait of Hormuz is increasingly being used to support regional military attacks, including the transfer of military equipment for hostile actions against Iran. Such military acts have exposed international shipping in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz to growing and unprecedented risks, he said.

"The United States has continued its internationally wrongful act by imposing maritime blockade, unlawfully seizing Iranian commercial vessels and detaining their crews. These dangerous escalating measures violate international law, breached the UN charter," said Iravani.

"Responsibility for any disruption, obstruction or other interference with the maritime transport in the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz lies directly with the aggressors -- the United States and its supporters whose unlawful and destabilizing action have heightened tensions and endangered maritime safety and freedom of navigation," he said.