Ebrahim Rezaei, a spokesperson for the Iranian Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, said the Strait of Hormuz will never return to its former state.
Control over this strategic waterway is a critical flashpoint for global energy security. Because the strait serves as a primary artery for oil and commercial shipping, any restriction on passage threatens to destabilize international markets and escalate military tensions between Tehran and Washington.
Rezaei said no force can reopen the waterway without the approval of Tehran [1, 2]. He said the United States should accept Iran's diplomatic position regarding the passage [1, 2].
President Donald Trump responded to the tension by stating that the U.S. must keep the Strait of Hormuz open for global commerce [3]. This stance contradicts the assertion from the Iranian parliament that Tehran holds sole authority over the waterway's status [1, 3].
Earlier this month, a White House spokesperson announced an initiative to ensure the safe passage of ships through the strait [4]. However, Iranian officials said such a move would be ineffective without the consent of Tehran [1].
"The Strait of Hormuz will never be the same, and no force can open it without Tehran's approval," Rezaei said [1].
While the U.S. continues to push for open maritime routes, the Iranian government seeks to assert its sovereignty over the passage amid rising regional tensions [1, 4]. The conflict persists as the U.S. maintains its commitment to guiding ships safely through the area [3, 4].
“"The Strait of Hormuz will never be the same, and no force can open it without Tehran's approval,"”
The competing claims over the Strait of Hormuz highlight a fundamental disagreement over maritime sovereignty versus international freedom of navigation. By asserting that the waterway cannot be 'reopened' without its consent, Iran is leveraging its geographic position to force diplomatic concessions from the U.S. government. This stalemate increases the risk of naval confrontations in one of the world's most sensitive maritime chokepoints.
