Iran Claims Full Control of Strait of Hormuz, Warns of Military Response to US Blockade

TEHRAN:Iranian Parliament Speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has claimed that Iran maintains full control over the Strait of Hormuz and warned that Tehran would respond militarily if the United States further tightens its naval blockade.

In a video message released by Iranian news agencies, Ghalibaf said Iranian forces were resisting US attempts to allow ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

He acknowledged that some vessels had managed to pass through the waterway, but maintained that Iranian forces still had complete control over the strait and would not permit it to be reopened.

Ghalibaf said the United States was giving ships what he described as “false assurances” that they could cross the Strait through its southern route. He claimed that vessels attempting to use the route were being targeted.

The Iranian parliamentary speaker accused the United States of violating a memorandum of understanding by seeking to use the southern route of the Strait of Hormuz, saying Iran would not allow such a move.

Describing the US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz as a “military action,” Ghalibaf warned that Iran would take military action if Washington further tightened the blockade.

“If the US objective is to stop Iran’s oil exports from the Gulf, then no country will be able to export oil,” he said.