Although progress has been made, there is still a significant gap between the two states, Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf said in an interview with the state news agency Tasnim. Although some points of contention have been resolved, other points remain unresolved. We are still “far from a final agreement.”
His country controls all shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, Ghalibaf said in the interview broadcast on Iranian state television this morning. Shortly before, Iran had… the announced opening of the strait, which is important for the global oil market, was reversed and has been taking military action against ships there ever since. The US decision to impose a blockade was foolish and ignorant, Ghalibaf said.
Iran demands lifting of US naval blockade
“If the blockade is not lifted, shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz will be restricted,” he said. There is no doubt about that. According to the Fars news agency, a spokesman for the armed forces headquarters had previously described the ongoing blockade of Iranian ports by the USA as Reason given for closing the strait again – less than 24 hours after the opening to shipping was announced.
The strait is under the strict administration and control of the armed forces, it said. The US military, for its part, announced that it would continue to take action against ships that want to call at or leave Iranian ports. (sda/dpa)