Tehran, August 4: Iran has issued a stern warning that it will target any US vessels attempting to alter the approved shipping corridor or maintain a naval blockade.
Mohsen Rezaei, a senior advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, stated on Monday that Iran will take action against any American warship that deviates from the route designated by Tehran for crossing the Strait of Hormuz.
In an interview with state media, Rezaei declared, “We will not allow a second corridor to open. Even if they (the US) deploy warships, we will target them.”
He further warned that if the US continues its naval blockade against Iran, American ships and bases would be at risk. “There will certainly be a serious threat to US vessels and bases. We will not sit idly by while the US maintains its naval blockade,” he said.
President Donald Trump mentioned on Monday that he hopes negotiations will begin in the next day or two. He threatened that the planned new talks with Tehran would be the last chance for Iran to negotiate before facing dangerous attacks on the country.
Iran promptly rejected the idea of new negotiations, stating that the Islamic Republic is currently working on a temporary agreement with Oman regarding shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
According to the IRNA news agency, during a press briefing in Tehran, it was stated that this arrangement would replace the various lanes currently used for shipping in the strait.
IRNA reiterated the comments of spokesperson Ismail Baghaei, who noted that discussions between the two countries on either side of the strait focused on replacing separate northern and southern routes with a single intermediate corridor, designed with the interests and security concerns of both coastal nations in mind.
However, there has been no comment from Oman regarding this matter. The Omani Foreign Ministry has remained silent since Tuesday morning, neither confirming nor denying that negotiations are underway.
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