TEHRAN (AA) – Iran’s military has the final say regarding the fate of Strait of Hormuz, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said on Wednesday.
“I don’t talk about military options as it’s up to military people to decide but we have said that Iran will protect its interests and one of our interests is stability in the region,” Zarif said in statements cited by the official IRNA news agency upon his arrival to New York to address the United Nations General Assembly and meet UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
“Stability should be for everybody, economic prosperity should be for everybody,” he said.
Earlier this week, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards General Ali Reza Tengseiri renewed threats to close the Strait of Hormuz if it is prevented from using the strategic waterway to export oil.
Tengseiri’s threats came hours after the U.S. announced plans to end all temporary exemptions for countries that still buy Iranian oil.
The move came as part of the White House’s policy of exerting “maximum pressure” on Iran with a view to bringing the country’s petroleum revenue to zero. Iranian officials have repeatedly threatened to close the strait, one of the global oil trade’s most important waterways, amid steadily mounting tensions with the U.S.
The lion’s share of petroleum from the region’s top producers — including Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Kuwait — passes through the Strait of Hormuz en route to oil-thirsty markets in the Far East.
IRNA adds: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei on Wednesday ruled out impacts of US sanctions on Iran’s oil, saying that Iran exports oil to the amount it needs.
Speaking on the recent moves by Washington to stop Iranian oil exports, the Supreme Leader said, ‘Their attempts will get nowhere.’
The Supreme Leader said that US officials assume that they have blocked the way, but if the active Iranian people and the vigilant officials work hard, they would make headway.
The Supreme Leader made the remarks in a meeting with laborers on the occasion of National Labor and Laborer Week.
Addressing Washington, the Leader emphasized that ‘The hostility would not be left unanswered.’
‘Iranian people are not the type to stand idle in the face of US enmities,’ he said.
The Supreme Leader cited the strategy of making economy independent of oil, saying that if Iran reduces its dependence on crude oil sale, it would be appreciated. ‘Iran is calling for justice in the world order and managed to draw the attention of all nations to path of justice Iran advocates,’ he said adding that the enemy has always failed to reach its goal.
‘Now they are focused on various economic issues, saying that US is determined to bring the Iranian people to their knees,’ Ayatollah Khamenei said adding that it would never happen.
Ayatollah Khamenei further slammed U.S. recent wave of sanctions of Iran’s oil exports and asserted: Firstly, their efforts won’t get them anywhere. We will export our oil as much as we need to and we intend to. They have wishfully blocked the way for us, but the vigorous nation and vigilant officials—if they work hard and determinedly—will open many blockades.
The Supreme Leader warned the U.S. that their hostile measure will be countered and stressed that: Secondly, they should know that this hostile measure will not be left without a reaction; they will receive the response to their animosity. The Iranian nation is not a nation that would sit idle in the face of hostilities.
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution regarded the sanctions as yet another opportunity for Iran to reform its oil sales policies and stated: Thirdly, the less we rely on this form of selling our oil, the more will we be appreciative [of our oil reserves], and it is better for us.
Ayatollah Khamenei referred to the many failures the enemies of the Islamic Republic have faced in their hostile measures against the Iranian nation and held: The enemy has repeatedly taken measures—all in vain—against our great nation, Revolution and the Islamic Republic that have voiced support for justice across the world, thus fascinating other nations.
Now the enemy engages in different hostile measures regarding economic issues and they say they seek to bring the Iranian nation to their knees.
