IRGC says Strait of Hormuz is now Iran's weapon of war

The Strait of Hormuz has transformed from a vital trade route into a "tool of power and war," according to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Brig. Gen. Hossein Mohebbi, spokesperson for the IRGC, asserted on Saturday in Bandar Abbas that the strait will remain closed until the United States complies with conditions set by Tehran.

"Whenever the United States accepts Iran's conditions, the Strait of Hormuz will certainly be opened," Mohebbi stated, as reported by Iran's Independent news agency. This declaration underscores Iran's leverage in controlling the strategic waterway, which is crucial for global oil transport.

Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, elaborated on the conditions. He specified that the U.S. must fulfill six demands, including paying war reparations. Zolghadr emphasized that an end to U.S. military intervention across the Middle East is a prerequisite for the full reopening of the strait.

Furthermore, Zolghadr added that Washington must lift sanctions against Iran and release all Iranian assets frozen worldwide. He also stressed that the U.S. must cease its threats and humiliation towards the Islamic Republic. "As long as America corrects its behavior, the Strait of Hormuz will not reopen," Zolghadr declared, signaling a firm stance by Iran in its ongoing dispute with the United States.