Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, has declared that the Strait of Hormuz will “not remain open” if the US blockade of Iranian ports continues.
Ghalibaf, who was head of Iran’s delegation in the recent negotiations with the US in Islamabad, Pakistan, stated on X that Donald Trump “made seven claims in one hour, all seven of which were false”.
“They did not win the war, and they will certainly not get anywhere in negotiations either with these lies,” added Ghalibaf.
On the Strait of Hormuz, the Parliament Speaker said that, with the “continuation of the [US] blockade”, the strait “will not remain open”.
He reiterated comments made earlier by Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei, who did say that “whether the strait is open or closed and the regulations governing it will be determined on the ground, not on social media”.
Both remarks by Ghalibaf and Baghaei came after a post on X by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who stated in English that the “passage for all commercial vessels” through the Strait of Hormuz was “completely open for the remaining period of the ceasefire”.
Araghchi’s comments attracted criticism from some Iranian media outlets and hardliners, asked him him to “clarify” his remarks.
“Media warfare and the shaping of public opinion are an important part of war, and the Iranian nation is not influenced by these tactics,” said Ghalibaf on X.
