Iran army tells US it has no choice but to accept Hormuz order

TEHRAN, Iran — The Iranian Army has warned the United States that it has no option but to accept the existing order in the Strait of Hormuz, saying Washington would otherwise face consequences far heavier than before. Army spokesman Brigadier General Mohammad Akrami Nia said the arrangement in the strait is irreversible, and that Iran's Armed Forces will remain strongly in the field until that order is fully established. Speaking at a public gathering in Tehran, Akrami Nia said the military possesses sufficient defensive capacity and firm resolve to enforce the arrangement. He said Iran's armed forces are fully prepared to sustain their presence in the area. Akrami Nia also pointed to what he described as the impact of large public demonstrations held overnight, saying the heavy turnout had helped to defeat what he called an "evil plot" by Iran's enemies to topple the regime and lifted public morale. He added that the public's "epic" participation had raised the morale of army personnel and strengthened the sense of duty among security forces. According to the spokesman, Iranian resistance against the United States has raised the country's standing among free and oppressed peoples worldwide. No further details were immediately available on any specific U.S. response.