ALWAGHT- Iranian Armed Forces spokesperson Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi has dismissed US claims of control over the Strait of Hormuz, describing them as psychological warfare and propaganda. He said Washington’s public statements would not alter the situation on the ground or shield the United States from the consequences of its policies in West Asia.
Shekarchi accused the United States of relying on unauthorized oil-smuggling routes through the strategic waterway to overcome its regional difficulties. He argued that such activities would not prevent what he described as an inevitable US defeat. Meanwhile, senior Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) adviser Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Naqdi said the volume of oil transported through these routes was negligible and did not mean the strait was open to normal maritime traffic.
Tehran has maintained that the restoration of regular shipping through the Strait of Hormuz depends on Washington ending its military campaign, lifting its naval blockade and recognizing Iran’s sovereign rights and security requirements. Naqdi also warned that unauthorized passages created by damaging rocky sections of the waterway would be closed.
Shekarchi said Iran’s armed forces remained prepared to defend the country and pledged to counter US and Israeli objectives in the region. He urged neighboring countries to reconsider their reliance on Washington for security, arguing that continued dependence on the United States could increase the costs of their strategic miscalculations. His remarks followed the US-Israeli attacks on Iran that began on February 28 and Tehran’s subsequent missile and drone strikes against Israeli-occupied territories and US regional bases and interests.
