Iran stood firm Sunday on its conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, despite US President Donald Trump’s rejection of the proposal that had created some optimism for breaking the West Asia war stalemate.
Iran’s armed forces are prepared to confront any renewed US attack, Iranian state media quoted army spokesperson Mohammad Akraminia as saying on Sunday, after US President Donald Trump rejected Tehran’s proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end the fighting.
Akraminia said Iran’s military was fully prepared for a confrontation and warned that Washington would face greater damage if it launched another attack against Iran.
Iranian Army Commander-in-Chief Amir Hatami separately described the war as being at a “critical and decisive” stage. He said Tehran would not accept a situation in which Iran was prevented from trading while foreign powers continued to use strategic waterways in the region.
“If Iran cannot trade, if Iran cannot live, no one will be able to trade or live,” Hatami said, adding that Tehran would not allow its adversaries to use the Strait of Hormuz, which he described as a matter of Iran’s “dignity and honour”, while depriving the Iranian people of access to it.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran’s proposal called for an end to hostilities across the Middle East, including in Lebanon, along with the implementation of conditions contained in a ceasefire understanding that collapsed months ago.
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The earlier agreement included provisions for the release of frozen Iranian assets, the lifting of sanctions on Iranian oil and an end to the US naval blockade.
“Our conditions are clear, and any move toward reopening the Strait of Hormuz is contingent upon these conditions being fulfilled. We will not back down from them,” Araghchi said on Sunday, according to Iranian state broadcaster IRIB.
‘Tool for pressure’
Washington and Tehran had signed a memorandum of understanding in June aimed at ending the war, reopening the Strait of Hormuz and beginning negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme. The understanding later collapsed amid renewed fighting and tensions over shipping through the waterway.
Iran requires vessels to obtain authorisation before passing through the strait, citing security and sovereignty concerns. Ships that fail to comply have been targeted, while the United States has periodically carried out strikes on Iranian coastal areas in response.
At the United Nations, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan criticised what he described as the international community’s failure to ensure the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab remain open.
“The kingdom rejects any party’s use of these vital passages as a tool for pressure, threat, or harm to the interests of states,” he said, highlighting the waterways’ importance to global energy security.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, meanwhile, told UN member states that Russia and other states are prepared to contribute to efforts aimed at stabilising the strategically important region.
In New York, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian met UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, according to the Iranian president’s office. Pezeshkian said Tehran had not abandoned negotiations but no longer trusted Washington because of its previous experiences.
Araghchi said Iran had conveyed a concrete seven-day proposal to the United States through Qatar. Under the plan, he said, the Strait of Hormuz could be reopened and normal maritime traffic restored within seven days if the required conditions were fulfilled.
“The choice now rests with the United States,” Araghchi said, adding that Iran would not accept coercion, threats or intimidation and would not surrender what it considers its sovereign rights under pressure.
Hossein Mohebi, a spokesperson for Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, was quoted by Tasnim news agency as saying Tehran would continue its actions against the US until Iran’s seven conditions were met.
Mohebi had earlier told AFP that ending hostilities in Yemen was also among Tehran’s demands.
With inputs from agencies