Mohsen Rezaei, a senior advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader, said the Strait of Hormuz is more important than dozens of nuclear bombs and that Iran will defend it.
Mohsen Rezaei, a senior advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader and former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), raised the stakes in Iran's verbal campaign over the Strait of Hormuz, declaring the waterway 'more important than dozens of nuclear bombs.' The statement, issued Sunday afternoon, adds a new dimension to a series of escalatory claims from Iranian officials earlier in the day.
Earlier today, at 09:06 Jerusalem, The Zioneer reported a rapid sequence of statements. First, parliament spokesman Ebrahim Rezaee claimed Iran controls the Strait 'with strength.' He then escalated, saying Iran seized the waterway 'by force' and will hold it by force. Senior military advisor Ibrahim Redai, citing a Telegram post, echoed that language. By the same time, a senior official, according to ynet, described the Strait as a 'deterrent component' that Iran will defend.
The Rezaei statement, from a figure closer to the Supreme Leader, frames the Strait not just as a military asset but as a strategic asset surpassing nuclear weapons in importance. This follows weeks of The Zioneer's reporting on Iran's nuclear and Hormuz posture. On June 27, Rezaei himself accused the US of violating a memorandum in the Strait. On June 12, an Iranian official said Hormuz management would shift. On July 11, a senior US official warned of 'difficult military plans' if Iran does not guarantee free passage by Sunday.
It remains unclear whether Rezaei's remarks reflect a new official policy or are part of Iran's rhetorical escalation. The direct timing relative to the US ultimatum has not been confirmed by independent sources.
5 developments
- StrongMedvedev: Strait of Hormuz is 'no less than nuclear weapons' for Iran
- DevelopingIran's top security official: US intervention not helpful in region, only Tehran controls Strait of Hormuz
- DevelopingSenior US official: Iran must announce free passage in Strait of Hormuz by tomorrow or face 'difficult military plans'
- StrongIran further clarifies nuclear stance: Hormuz management to shift, enriched uranium deferred
Source and signal
- Internal intake