Tehran issued a stern warning to Washington hours after US President Donald Trump temporarily canceled plans to launch a military strike against Iran. Iran made clear on Tuesday that any new military aggression would have serious consequences and be humiliating for the US, adding that the strategically important Strait of Hormuz would never return to its former state. Fresh tensions in the Gulf region came after Trump announced the suspension of military operations against Iran at the request of the leadership of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Ibrahim Rezah, spokesman for Iran’s Parliamentary National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, said in a statement that no power could reopen the Strait of Hormuz without Iran’s consent. “We are fully prepared for any situation and the response to the attack will be stronger,” Reza told state broadcaster IRIB. In contrast, President Donald Trump has warned his military that if ongoing talks with mediators fail, they must be ready to launch a large-scale attack on Iran at any moment. Meanwhile, Iranian President Massoud Pezheshkian also clarified his position, declaring that they will never bow to the enemy and that talks do not mean surrender or retreat under any circumstances.
The conflict has been going on for the last three months and now it has turned dire. Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz to almost all shipping, disrupting 20 percent of global oil and gas supplies. The price of crude oil in the world market exceeded 107 dollars per barrel. Spokesman Reza had earlier warned that Iran’s restraint was over and any attack on its ships would be decisive against US bases and ships. To defuse the situation, Iran has put forward several tough conditions to the United States, including lifting the embargo on Iranian shipping, lifting all sanctions, paying reparations, releasing seized assets, and recognizing Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.
At present, diplomatic talks between the two sides, mediated by the Gulf countries and Pakistan, are continuing, but the situation is very tense. There has been a sharp standoff between the two sides over Iran’s nuclear program and conditions for reopening the waterway, which has temporarily eased military tensions but has yet to lead to a permanent solution.
