🔶 Qalibaf: The Strait of Hormuz will not be reopened until the blockade of ports and oil sanctions are lifted

Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, the Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly and Iran’s senior negotiator in talks with the United States, said on Tuesday, 18 August (27 Mordad) in a parliamentary session: “As long as the maritime blockade of Iran’s ports is not lifted, the frozen assets are not released, the oil sanctions are not brought to an end, and threats and military operations on all fronts are not stopped, the Strait of Hormuz will not be reopened.”

He said that the opportunity created by the memorandum of understanding on lifting the blockade and the ceasefire “made a worthy contribution to strengthening Iran’s economic resilience and rebuilding its defensive capabilities, and the Islamic Republic is prepared to impose on the enemy a defeat even heavier than before, proportionate to the enemy’s actions and incursions”.

In another part of his remarks, Qalibaf claimed “the enemy is trying to create discontent and create divisions within Iranian society” and warned that “any person or entity that, through its words, conduct, or decisions, causes people’s discontent or undermines the national unity of the country, knowingly or unknowingly is playing into the enemy’s hands”.