🕒 Created · Updated

Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf states Iran retains absolute control over the Strait of Hormuz amid U.S. naval blockade

The administration announced a reinstated U.S. naval blockade off Iran's southern coast, which has disrupted over 80% of Iran's heavy imports and non-oil exports. The blockade has caused significant financial strain on Iranian citizens, with official inflation nearing 70% and food inflation surging to 128%. Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, the Iranian parliament speaker, stated that Tehran retains absolute control over the Strait of Hormuz and will keep the waterway closed to shipping until the United States fulfills its commitments under previous agreements. Qalibaf also noted that Iran's armed forces are prepared to respond to any attack and highlighted progress in domestic air defense and missile systems. To mitigate the impact of the blockade, Iran is shifting trade toward land routes through neighbors like Turkey, Iraq, and Pakistan. While these routes cannot fully replace maritime trade, they provide essential goods like food and medicine. However, the blockade has increased freight rates and operational costs for local businesses and transport, leading to many citizens to predict that continued economic pressure may eventually spark public protests.

Sources

Paywall and unreadable sources