Iranian Security Council Secretary-General Zolqadr said the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz depends on the United States changing its stance. Zolqadr said the strait would not reopen as long as the US failed to change its conduct.
The conditions listed by Zolqadr included the unconditional release of Iran’s frozen assets, an end to the naval blockade, the withdrawal of US naval and air forces from around Iran, the lifting of sanctions and the payment of compensation for the past two wars against Iran.
The Iranian official also demanded that the US end its war against Iran’s allies in Lebanon, Palestine, Yemen and Iraq, refrain from threatening Iran and stop insulting the Iranian people’s holy sites.
Iranian army comments on the Strait of Hormuz
Brigadier General Mohammad Ekreminia, spokesperson for the Iranian Army, addressed the situation in the Strait of Hormuz at a meeting held in Tehran’s Chitgar district. Ekreminia said the Iranian Armed Forces would act resolutely to fully establish the order they had created in the strait.
Ekreminia 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 spokesperson claimed that otherwise, the US would pay a much higher price than it had in the past.
Iranian president points to a suitable time for an agreement
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the current period was suitable for reaching an agreement with the US. Pezeshkian said unity and solidarity in the country had placed Iran in a strong position.
Pezeshkian said wars could not resolve disputes on their own and noted that 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, Pezeshkian said they were ready to use the memorandum as the basis for their approach if trust were restored.
US gives figures on vessels in the strait
US Central Command said that, as of August 8, the routes of 53 commercial vessels had been diverted as part of the blockade in the Strait of Hormuz. The statement said that two vessels had been disabled and two others had been seized.
More than 30 vessels were allowed to pass through the blockade area for humanitarian aid purposes by the US military. Maintenance work was carried out on the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, which was participating in 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 assesses agreement and attacks
Israeli Energy Minister Cohen said it would be better for Israel if no agreement were reached between the US and Iran. Cohen argued that pressure on Iran could be maintained and claimed that the government in Tehran would fall within two or three years.
A television report in Israel alleged that the Tel Aviv administration was continuing preparations for the possibility of launching an attack on Iran without US support. Assessments by senior US military officials that further escalation of the conflict could create new risks and that achieving objectives through airstrikes alone would be difficult were also raised.
