Iran supreme leader issues defiant statement on strait of Hormuz

Key Points:

• Iran’s supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei has issued a defiant statement asserting Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz and pledging to protect the country’s nuclear and missile programs, framing this as a new chapter for regional sovereignty and economic progress.
• The statement follows heightened tensions after the US imposed a counter-blockade on Iranian oil since mid-April, severely disrupting vessel traffic through the strait and pushing global oil prices above $120 per barrel amid stalled Pakistan-mediated talks.
• Khamenei condemned foreign interference in the strait and declared Iran’s determination to maintain control, while Iranian military officials claimed that efforts to blockade the strait would fail and hailed Iran’s resistance against the US.
• The international community, including Gulf Arab states, views the strait as an international waterway free of tolls, and Iran’s proposed fees and control measures have been criticized as bordering on piracy.
• The US and UK are engaging in diplomatic efforts to oversee the strait’s security post-conflict, including reviving a 12-nation International Maritime Security Construct to coordinate maritime safety and communications in the region.