Iran Says Strait of Hormuz Will Remain Closed Until US Changes Course

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei said the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until all conditions set by Tehran are met. He made the remarks during talks with China’s ambassador to Tehran. Rezaei described Iran-China relations as constructive and stable over several decades. He said their strategic agreement has supported broader ties, while Iran’s membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and BRICS creates potential for future cooperation. He welcomed China’s decision not to support a draft resolution at the UN Security Council that he described as unlawful and hostile toward Iran. Rezaei blamed the United States for insecurity in the Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the Sea of Oman, saying Washington had imposed an unlawful war on Iran and endangered the wider region. Rezaei also called for an end to the war and the release of frozen Iranian funds. He said mediators had conveyed to the US the need to end conflicts across the region, including in Lebanon and Gaza. Any possible transit and navigation agreement between Iran and Oman would be handled separately from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, according to Rezaei.