Tehran: Iran has said the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the United States fulfils its commitments and changes its approach towards Tehran, signalling no immediate easing of tensions surrounding one of the world’s most important energy routes.
Iran’s Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), Mohsen Rezaei, made the assertion on Saturday while rejecting American claims about the status of the strategic waterway.
“The Strait of Hormuz is closed, despite American claims, and will not open until America corrects its behaviour,” Rezaei said in an interview with Iranian state broadcaster IRIB.
“This time, America must first fulfil its obligations,” he added.
Iran Says US Has Shifted From Military To Economic Pressure
Rezaei claimed Washington had become “disappointed” with military action and was instead attempting to increase economic pressure on Iran.
He also alleged that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had convinced US President Donald Trump that a sustained economic blockade could force Tehran to surrender.
Iran, Rezaei maintained, has spent years adapting to international sanctions and has developed methods to continue selling oil despite restrictions.
He accused Washington of attempting to weaken unity within Iran through economic pressure and called on young Iranians to play a greater role in strengthening the country’s economy.
Trump Announces ‘Economic D-Day’ Against Iran
Rezaei’s remarks came after Trump announced what he called an “Economic D-Day” campaign against Tehran, describing it as an intensified effort to isolate the Iranian economy.
Trump said the measures would target Iran’s oil networks, financial transfers, exchange houses, ship registries and alleged front companies. He also called on US allies to support Washington’s campaign.
Amid the escalating confrontation, Trump described the Strait of Hormuz as “American territory” and claimed the United States had “total control” over the strategic passage.
Iran strongly rejected the remarks.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi challenged Trump’s assertion, while Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Tehran would not reopen the Strait until Washington fulfils commitments under what he described as a 14-point memorandum of understanding.
According to Ghalibaf, Iran’s demands include the lifting of the blockade, release of frozen Iranian assets and easing of restrictions on its oil sector.
US Says Oil Is Still Moving Through Strait Of Hormuz
Despite Tehran’s claims that the Strait remains closed, US officials have presented a different account.
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said more than 15 million barrels of oil and petroleum products had moved through the Strait with US military support on Tuesday.
Including shipments transported through pipeline routes, Wright said nearly 20 million barrels had left the region.
“Thanks to the U.S. Navy, oil is flowing through the Strait of Hormuz,” Wright said.
The competing claims from Washington and Tehran highlight the continuing uncertainty surrounding movement through the waterway.
Why Strait Of Hormuz Matters
The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea and is one of the most strategically important routes for the global energy trade.
A prolonged disruption could affect international supplies of crude oil and petroleum products, potentially putting pressure on global energy prices.
Rezaei maintained that Iran intends to defend its territory while calling for an end to the wider conflict in West Asia. At the same time, he warned Washington against increasing its military presence in the region.
With both sides continuing to harden their positions, the future of the Strait remains at the centre of the escalating US-Iran confrontation.
