As tensions escalate between the United States and Iran, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the Iranian parliamentary speaker and chief negotiator for peace talks, stated that Iran will not relinquish control over the Hormuz Strait. He warned that if the U.S. fails to uphold its commitments, there would be no reason for Iran to adhere to the peace memorandum of understanding (MOU).
On July 15, Ghalibaf declared in a statement, "We are engaged in an existential war with the United States." He emphasized that Iran's national security depends on maintaining an 'Iranian order' in the Hormuz Strait, asserting, "We will not allow the U.S. to change this order through force."
Ghalibaf also attached conditions to the implementation of the peace MOU, stating, "If Iran gains no benefits from the agreement with the U.S., there is no reason to comply with it." However, he left the door open for negotiations, noting, "Choosing only one option between military response and diplomacy would be a strategic mistake. We must utilize both means to protect our national interests."
The U.S. and Iran signed a peace MOU last month and agreed to continue subsequent negotiations. However, renewed clashes over the Hormuz Strait have effectively undermined the agreement. The U.S. has resumed its maritime blockade against Iran, and military confrontations between the two nations continue.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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