The Strait of Hormuz has emerged as the central flashpoint in the ongoing US-Iran confrontation.
Iran’s military adviser Mohsen Rezaei cautioned the US over its naval blockade, asserting that Tehran will remain in the Strait of Hormuz until its “rights are fully secured,” Press TV reported.
According to Press TV, the adviser – who previously served as a commander in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) – said Tehran views the strategic waterway as a key leverage point and will continue to maintain control in response to what it calls unlawful curbs on its economic and maritime activities.
Iran will not leave the Strait of Hormuz until its rights are fully secured. Based on past negotiations, agreements need to be drafted more carefully, with greater attention to economic concerns. Unlike the US, which fears a long war, Iran says it is prepared and experienced in prolonged conflict. Rezaei questioned why US forces avoid the Strait if Iran’s navy has been weakened. He added that, unlike in the past, Iran is now setting the terms of negotiations,” Press TV reported.
The Strait of Hormuz – through which nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply flows – has emerged as the central flashpoint in the ongoing US-Iran confrontation, even as diplomatic efforts continue behind the scenes to resolve the conflict in West Asia.
This comes after the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Wednesday that it had successfully enforced a comprehensive blockade of Iranian ports, with US forces claiming control over key regional waterways, including the Strait of Hormuz.
In a statement, CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper said that within 36 hours of launching the operation, US forces had effectively stopped all maritime trade to and from Iran.