Iran has said it will not allow the Strait of Hormuz to return to its previous state, signalling its intent to maintain control over one of the world’s most critical oil chokepoints amid the deepening conflict.
Abbas Goudarzi, Iran’s parliament speaker, described the strait as a “strategic advantage”, indicating that control of the passageway would remain firmly in the hands of the country’s armed forces.
He said: “No country has the right to pass through it without Tehran’s permission, and Tehran will defend this strategic location with all its military capabilities.”
The enemies thought they were able to destroy the Iranian navy, but the armed forces did not weaken, but rather gained more experience on the battlefield and were able to identify new capabilities,” he added.
He insisted that Iran “would not accept compromise or surrender, but will stand firm in order to establish Iran’s position in the new world order.
In remarks to Tasnim News Agency, he suggested that Tehran would continue to leverage its position over the vital shipping route, through which a significant proportion of the world’s oil supply passes.
The comments come as U.S. intelligence assessments indicate that Iran has no intention of reopening the strait in the near term, despite the potential consequences for the global economy. Instead, officials believe Tehran is seeking to use its grip on the waterway as a bargaining tool against Washington.
In a separate development, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps denied any involvement in an alleged attack targeting the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh.
The force said it had “absolutely no connection” to the incident and dismissed the claims as “undoubtedly a Zionist act”, accusing what it described as the “Zionist enemy” of attempting to inflame tensions further.
They added: “The Iranian armed forces have a clear target bank, and we have previously issued warnings to neighbouring and Muslim countries about the Zionist entity’s attempts to incite discord.
The competing claims underscore the volatility of the region, as the confrontation between Iran, the United States and Israel continues to widen, raising fears of further disruption to global energy supplies and international shipping.
