A senior Iranian official on Monday reasserted the country's control over the strategic Strait of Hormuz in response to the U.S. President Donald Trump's plan to guide ships out of the strategic waterway starting Monday morning.
According to a report by the Iranian Students’ News Agency on Monday, Ibrahim Rezaei, a spokesman for the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee in the Iranian Parliament, said reopening the strait requires recognition of Iran's control over it.
Trump said on Sunday that the United States will begin guiding ships out of the Strait of Hormuz on Monday morning, Middle East time.
Calling the action "Project Freedom," Trump said it is "a humanitarian gesture."
He warned that if "this Humanitarian process is interfered with, that interference will, unfortunately, have to be dealt with forcefully."
Rezaei said that to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the United States must either accept a defeat, reach an agreement, and acknowledge Iran's dominance over the strait, or return to the battlefield and face further consequences.
Also on Monday, Ali Abdollahi, chief commander of Iran's main military command Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, said in a statement that the Iranian armed forces would strike any foreign military forces, particularly the U.S. forces, which attempt to approach or enter the Strait of Hormuz.
According to a report by the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) on Monday, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said on the same day in response to the U.S. guiding stranded vessels out of Hormuz that Iranian personnel responsible for dealing with such illegal actions are fully prepared and know exactly how to defend Iran's interests and security.
He said that Iran has made it clear that it considers itself the guardian and defender of the Strait of Hormuz.
Meanwhile, according to Iran's Fars News Agency on Monday, a spokesperson for Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) said that there have been no changes to the management procedures for the Strait of Hormuz, and that maritime activities contrary to the principles announced by the IRGC Navy will face serious risks.
Vessels in violation will be intercepted by force, the spokesman said.
Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency on Monday cited informed sources as saying that Iran is prepared for all possible scenarios in the Strait of Hormuz.
In addition to opening fire on U.S. naval vessels, Iran has prepared other options and will take actions if necessary, the news agency said.
Iran reasserts its control over Strait of Hormuz in response to Trump's plan to guide stranded ships out
