Iran says to control traffic through Hormuz until war definitively ended

Tehran:Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) said that the country is determined to exercise control and supervision over traffic through the Strait of Hormuz until the war is definitively ended and a lasting peace is achieved in the region.

The statement, reported by Iranian media, came after Iran’s main military command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, announced earlier on Saturday the resumption of strict control over the Strait of Hormuz, citing the continuation of US naval blockade against Iran.

The SNSC said it will control the strait by demanding vessel information, issuing passage permits, charging fees for security and environmental services, and directing traffic according to its regulations and wartime protocols, Xinhua news agency reported.

“By the time the enemy seeks to cause disruption to the vessels’ transit through the strait and resort to methods such as imposing a naval blockade, which will be considered as violations of the (current two-week) ceasefire, the country will prevent the conditional and restricted reopening of the Strait of Hormuz,” it said.

The SNSC noted that a major part of the equipment for US bases in West Asia is supplied via the Strait of Hormuz, which it said poses a threat to Iranian and regional security.

It also said Iran has received new US proposals, delivered through Pakistan during a recent visit by its Army Chief Asim Munir, and is reviewing them.

Iran’s negotiating delegation will not make any compromise and will defend the country’s interests with full force, it added.

Iran tightened its grip on the strait beginning February 28, when Israel and the United States launched their joint strikes on Iranian territory. The United States recently imposed a blockade targeting ships going to and from Iran, after peace negotiations in Islamabad collapsed.

On Friday, Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said the Strait of Hormuz would be “completely open” to commercial shipping for the duration of the two-week truce between Iran and the United States, which took effect on April 8, in line with the announcement of the truce in Lebanon.

However, Iran’s main military command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, announced on Saturday the resumption of strict control over the Strait of Hormuz due to the continued US naval blockade.

–IANS