The Strait of Hormuz is only closed to US and Israeli ships, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in an interview with MS NOW on Saturday. Other ships are free to pass, although many prefer not to due to “security concerns,” which Araghchi claimed have nothing to do with Iran. He added that currently there are “many tankers and ships that are passing through the Strait of Hormuz.”
This comes after US President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that the US, along with several other countries affected by “Iran’s attempted closure of the Hormuz Strait,” would be sending warships to keep the Strait “open and safe.” In the post, Trump listed China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the UK as examples of countries affected by the closure, expressing hope that they would send ships to the area.
Araghchi also responded to claims made by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, was wounded and likely disfigured, saying that “there is no problem with the supreme leader.” “He sent his message yesterday and will perform his duties - he is performing his duties according to the constitution and will continue to do that,” Araghchi added. Araghchi also emphasized that the Islamic Republic was well-established and not reliant on any one person, and that any loss of individuals could be weathered by the system. “Everything is under control,” Araghchi said. (Read More)
