Iran: "Strait of Hormuz Will Remain Closed If Conditions Are Not Met"

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the Iranian Parliament Speaker and chief negotiator in talks with the United States, stated on September 20 (local time) that Iran would continue to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed unless the conditions it has set for ending hostilities are met.

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Speaker of the Iranian Parliament. Reuters Yonhap News

In his address at the opening of the parliamentary session that day, Ghalibaf said, "Unless the conditions we have presented are fulfilled, the legitimate rights of the Iranian nation are recognized, and the United States implements them, there will be no return to negotiations or any possibility of reopening the Strait of Hormuz." He added, "Our stance on the diplomatic stage is extremely clear and rational, and it is not subject to compromise. Through mediator nations, we have conveyed these demands and messages to the other side in a transparent and resolute manner."

Iran continues to maintain its position that the conditions for ending hostilities include a ceasefire on all fronts including Lebanon, the unfreezing of funds, the lifting of oil export sanctions, recognition of Iran's control over the Strait of Hormuz, and the lifting of maritime blockades.

Ghalibaf also pointed out, "There is a segment of the elite who call for war, yet lack any tactical vision or mechanism to end it proactively and overwhelmingly, failing to take into account the country's actual capabilities. By rejecting all forms of engagement and diplomatic approaches, they ultimately drag the country into wars of attrition and endless conflict." He went on to say, "On the other hand, there are those who fall into the error of underestimating the nation's defense capabilities, thereby fostering a sense of insecurity, advocating for acceptance and submission to the enemy's unilateral conditions." This indicates his criticism of both those who reject negotiations and insist solely on military action, and those who argue for negotiations only with the United States.

Regarding these two opposing views, Ghalibaf stated, "Such biased approaches only serve the enemy's strategic intent to undermine cohesion and unity." He continued, "We must fight with rationality and overwhelming force, securing decisive gains on the battlefield, and at the appropriate moment when the enemy has weakened, achieve results through negotiations based on the superiority of power and rationality, and make these gains irreversible through diplomatic means."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.