Strait of Hormuz ...
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The Islamic Republic, concerned about the destructive consequences of the continued naval blockade on the national economy and the possibility of internal unrest and protests, is seeking to establish new land and sea routes for importing goods via the Caspian Sea and the Eurasian region with Russia at its center.
One of the objectives of the recent visit by Iran’s Economy Minister Ali Madanizadeh to Moscow was precisely this matter; during the trip, negotiations were also held on finalizing the receipt of a one-billion-dollar loan from Russia.
In recent days, following the controversial remarks of former Iranian president Hassan Rouhani emphasizing that the Strait of Hormuz should not become a strait of war, and the widespread reactions of his opponents, a source close to the SNSC, who requested anonymity, exclusively told me “Individuals such as Mr. Rouhani who view the existing problem solely through the lens of the strait’s closure are committing a strategic error in analyzing the present situation. The Islamic Republic does not intend to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed permanently, but the responsibility for its continued closure lies with the United States, which has failed to fulfill its commitments under the Islamabad Understanding. Iran has the right to use its sole instrument of power within its territorial waters.”
The source, who previously held senior military and security positions in the Islamic Republic for years, added “Iran is engaged in a hybrid and multi-dimensional war with the United States and Israel. Over the past year, they have employed every measure, including surprise attacks, deception operations, attempts to ignite civil war, coups, blockade, and full-scale war. Of course, we believe that in all these plans, the United States has acted as a tool or plaything in the hands of the Zionists. For this reason, we place no trust in Washington’s promises and statements; only practical American actions that serve Iran’s interests can lead to a reduction in tensions.”
In response to the question of what steps the United States must take to reduce tension, the source stated “America’s participation in the assassination of the Leader, commanders, children, and innocent people constitutes the primary reasons for the Islamic Republic’s distrust. These actions have further intensified the people’s hatred and anger toward the enemy. Moreover, the destruction of the country’s infrastructure has inflicted heavy damage, while the naval blockade and intensification of sanctions not only fail to push Iran toward surrender but encourage it to take offensive actions against the United States. Therefore, the solution lies in halting America’s destructive policies and replacing them with confidence-building measures.”
According to this official of the Islamic Republic, the United States seeks, through cognitive warfare and media and propaganda campaigns, to conceal realities and portray the closure of the Strait of Hormuz by the Islamic Republic as the obstacle to establishing peace in the region. In this media atmosphere, it aims to close the file of the war without paying the price for its own actions. For this reason, the insistence of officials of the Islamic Republic on maintaining control over the Strait of Hormuz is not merely a military issue; it is a pretext and a field of power-testing for the realization of national rights. Accordingly, the SNSC, while emphasizing the exercise of Iran’s sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, simultaneously pursues the country’s other demands in a combined manner. The most important of these are: cessation of the war in Lebanon and Yemen, lifting of the naval blockade, removal of sanctions, release of Iran’s frozen assets in foreign banks, and, above all, a guarantee against any renewed violation of Iran’s territorial integrity.
In the view of officials of the Islamic Republic, as long as Washington is unwilling to take steps to compensate for the heavy damages of the two recent wars and continues its aggressive approach toward Iran, the Strait of Hormuz will remain an important and effective instrument in the field of confrontation and power-testing between the two countries. The experience of the past six months has also shown that this instrument can be effective in achieving the objectives of the Islamic Republic. In contrast, some politicians and experts inside Iran believe that Tehran should use the Strait of Hormuz bargaining chip as soon as possible, because time will not always be on Iran’s side, and this bargaining chip may lose its value and credibility in the not-too-distant future.