Regarding the Strait of Hormuz! Latest Statements from Both US and Iran - Iranian Parliament Speaker Says It Will Not Return to Pre-War Status

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Source: Cailian Press

Cailian Press, March 18 — Since the outbreak of the US-Iran war, Iran has effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz, severely disrupting energy supplies and international trade. Regarding the passage issues around the strait, Iranian officials made new statements on Tuesday, indicating that this one of the world’s most important energy corridors could face long-term disruption.

According to reports from CCTV News and other media, on the 17th local time, Iranian Islamic Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani posted on social media that the Strait of Hormuz will not return to pre-war conditions.

The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway located between Iran and Oman, at the entrance to the Persian Gulf. It is one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints and an important global shipping route. About one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas supplies are transported through this strait daily, but Iran has largely closed it, raising concerns about energy shocks.

On the 13th, Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, issued his first statement since taking office, saying Iran will continue to blockade the Strait of Hormuz.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has also repeatedly stated that the Strait of Hormuz is under strict control of the IRGC Navy, and “the United States and its allies have no right of passage.”

U.S. High-Level Statements

Meanwhile, U.S. officials have issued multiple statements regarding the Strait of Hormuz. On one hand, signaling that navigation through the strait is gradually being restored; on the other hand, U.S. President Donald Trump publicly criticized NATO allies for their passive attitude on escort issues.

On the 17th, Trump, during a meeting with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar at the White House, claimed that safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz “won’t be too long.” He also stated that the U.S. is not yet ready to end its conflict with Iran but “we will leave soon.”

He expressed dissatisfaction again with NATO allies for not participating in the escort operations that the U.S. plans to initiate in the Strait of Hormuz, saying he is “disappointed” with NATO.

Trump also posted on his social platform “Real Social” that the U.S. has received notifications from most NATO allies indicating they are unwilling to get involved in U.S.-initiated military actions against Iran in the Middle East. He further stated that the U.S. no longer needs or desires assistance from NATO countries.

Kevin Hasset, Director of the National Economic Council at the White House, said that oil tankers have “begun to pass sporadically” through the Strait of Hormuz. He also reiterated that the Trump administration believes military actions against Iran will last for weeks rather than months.

Regarding military operations, early morning on the 18th Tehran time, U.S. Central Command announced that hours earlier, U.S. forces successfully used multiple 5,000-pound deep-penetration bombs to destroy fortified missile launch sites along the Iranian coast near the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. military officials stated that these sites’ anti-ship cruise missiles pose a threat to international shipping within the strait.