Iran’s top security official: Trump’s claim that Strait of Hormuz is open ‘a big lie’
Iran’s top security official: Trump’s claim that Strait of Hormuz is open ‘a big lie’
M.U.H
07/09/202636
Tehran: Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council has declared that the Strait of Hormuz is “completely closed and under the control of the armed forces,” dismissing US President Donald Trump’s claim that the strategic waterway remains open as a “big lie.”
In a televised interview on Sunday night, Major General Mohsen Rezaei said that prior to the closure, more than 100 vessels carrying over 100 million tons of cargo passed through the strait daily.
Now, he said, only seven to eight ships carrying essential goods for Iran are transiting the waterway.
“The Americans are trying to smuggle five to six vessels through at great expense, but these ships are usually struck,” Rezaei said.
He added that Iran has not decided to sink the smuggling vessels, as they carry oil and would damage the region's environment.
New restricted zone to be declared outside Strait
Rezaei also announced that in the coming days, a restricted zone will be declared outside the Strait of Hormuz.
“The zone will begin from the US Navy’s blockade line and extend into parts of the Persian Gulf,” he explained.
He warned that any vessel entering the new restricted zone would be placed on a sanctions list.
Rezaei also revealed that Iran has successfully tested a new domestically developed anti-ship missile, saying the test was conducted above a US Navy vessel two days ago.
“For the first time, we tested our anti-ship missile above an American warship,” he said. “This special missile created hell for the Americans, and they fled.”
Rezaei also referred to a new shipping route agreed upon between Iran and Oman in the Strait of Hormuz, stating that a new international corridor, managed by Iran, has been established with Omani partners and will be announced in the coming days.
Addressing Iran’s shifting strategy on the battlefield, he said that Trump had announced a plan for a massive ten-day military assault against Iran. However, he said that after the first day, when US forces faced surprise attacks by Iran on American support bases and troop positions in Jordan and Erbil, the ten-day offensive was effectively ended in just one day.
The official further emphasized that Iran reserves the right to retaliate for the US attack on a wedding ceremony in Sirik.
“To this day, the only war that has always resulted in victory for us and defeat for the enemy is this very war between Iran and the United States,” he said.
