The structure of Hormuz will not be opened by threats: Iran's clear announcement

The Iranian military has categorically stated that the Strait of Hormuz will never be closed through war or threats. Senior Iranian military official Brigadier General Mohammad Akram clarified that the United States must respect international laws and the dignity of nations. A statement issued by the Iranian military said that Iran will not tolerate any kind of external interference and violation of agreements in the Strait of Hormuz.

They recalled that Iran had allowed toll-free traffic for 60 days under an agreement, but the United States had attempted to deceive and create an illegal route, which is unacceptable. Brigadier General Mohammad Akram further said that the only way to reopen the Strait of Hormuz is for the United States to respect Iran's rights. He expressed determination that the Iranian armed forces will vigorously and effectively defend their national rights to the last breath.

Last night, US President Donald Trump said that a US naval blockade of Iranian ports would be reimposed within the next few hours, and Washington would become the "guardian" of the Strait of Hormuz for a 20 percent fee. Following the failure of the Islamabad talks on ending the war, the United States has announced a naval blockade of Iran, which was to be imposed at 10:00 AM (US Eastern Time) and would apply only to ships going to or coming from Iran.

The US Central Command said that the blockade of Iranian ports and coastal areas would begin formally on Tuesday, starting at 1:00 AM (Pakistan time) on Tuesday night, and the command would strictly enforce the blockade of Iranian ports. Ships that do not violate the blockade will be allowed to move freely. According to the US military, a previous blockade of Iranian ports from April 13 to June 18 had resulted in the rerouting of over 140 ships, with nine ships being disabled for violating orders, while over 50 commercial ships carrying humanitarian aid were allowed to pass during the previous blockade.

It is recalled that on April 22, US President Donald Trump claimed that the US naval blockade was causing Iran a daily loss of $50 million, while the US Department of Defense estimated that by May 1, Iran had suffered a total loss of $4.8 billion in oil revenue. The Omani Ministry of Foreign Affairs has clarified that Oman is ready to cooperate with the parties to ensure free navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the parties should abide by maritime laws and international laws related to the UN Charter. The statement condemned rocket attacks by Houthi rebels on Saudi Arabia and supported measures taken to ensure Saudi Arabia's security. The war for control of the strait has now pitted Iran against Oman as well.

A senior Iranian official has categorically stated that whether Oman cooperates or not, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz will not be the same as before. Earlier, CNN had reported that Oman had proposed a new plan for navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, which would divide it into two separate shipping lanes. The southern lane on the Omani side would allow for free navigation, while ships using the northern lane on the Iranian side would require prior permission from Iran, and the proposed agreement would not impose any toll on ships.

Iranian Supreme Leader's advisor Mohsen Rezaei said that the Strait of Hormuz is a strategic waterway and one of Iran's most important defense assets, and Iran will ensure its protection at all costs. A US Central Command statement said that the Strait of Hormuz is open to ships that respect international laws, Iran does not control the strait, and navigation is proceeding normally.