Iran’s new security chief Mohsen Rezaei has said the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the United States ends its war and blockade against Iran and agrees to a broader regional ceasefire, Al Jazeera reported.
In a social media post after meeting China’s ambassador to Tehran, Rezaei said Iran’s conditions also included the release of frozen Iranian assets and a ceasefire covering Lebanon and Gaza.
“Until all conditions are met, the Strait will remain closed,” said Rezaei, a former wartime commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
His remarks came as military activity continued around the Strait, the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, further dimming hopes of an early reopening of the vital shipping route. Rezaei also said any potential agreement with Oman over the Strait was separate from Washington, while Iran continued to press for closer ties with China.
