Iran’s position on reopening the Strait of Hormuz is conditional on the US changing its conduct, Secretary-General of Iran’s Security Council Zolqadr said. He added that the strait would not reopen unless Washington took this step.
Zolqadr demanded the unconditional release of Iran’s frozen assets, an end to the naval blockade and the withdrawal of US naval and air assets from around Iran. The Iranian official also listed the lifting of sanctions and the payment of compensation for the last two wars against Iran among the conditions.
Zolqadr called on the US to end its war against Iran’s allies in Lebanon, Palestine, Yemen and Iraq. He also demanded that Iran not be threatened and that the religious sanctities of the Iranian people not be insulted.
Iranian army says order in the strait is permanent
Brigadier General Mohammad Ekremi-nia, spokesman for the Iranian Army, made a statement on the Strait of Hormuz during a meeting in Tehran’s Chitgar district. Ekremi-nia said Iran’s Armed Forces would act resolutely until the order established in the strait was fully consolidated.
Ekremi-nia argued that the new order in the Strait of Hormuz was irreversible and said the US would have to accept the current situation. The Iranian Army spokesman claimed that otherwise the US would pay a much higher price than it had in the past.
Pezeshkian points to a favorable time for an agreement with the US
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the current period was suitable for reaching an agreement with the US. Pezeshkian said unity and solidarity within the country had placed Iran in a strong position and that wars could not resolve disputes on their own.
Pezeshkian said his government wanted to continue seeking peace within the framework of the memorandum of understanding signed with the US in June. Describing the US as still unreliable, the Iranian president said they were ready to use the memorandum as the basis for their approach if trust were restored.
US releases figures on vessel movements in the Strait of Hormuz
US Central Command announced that the routes of 53 commercial vessels had been changed as of August 8 as part of the blockade in the Strait of Hormuz. The command said that 2 vessels had been disabled and 2 vessels had been seized.
The US military allowed more than 30 vessels to pass through the blockade area for humanitarian purposes. Maintenance work was carried out on the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, which was assigned to the blockade against Iran. F/A-18E Super Hornet aircraft were also serviced to keep the carrier strike group’s assets ready for operations.
Israel debates an agreement and the possibility of an attack
Israeli Energy Minister Cohen said it would be better for Israel if the US and Iran did not reach an agreement. Cohen argued that pressure on Iran could be maintained and claimed that the government in Tehran would fall within two or three years.
Israeli television reported that the Tel Aviv administration was continuing preparations in case it might attack Iran without US support. The report also included assessments by senior US military officials that further escalation of the conflict could create new risks and that reaching targets solely through airstrikes would be difficult.
