Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Sunday took a jab at US President Donald Trump’s statement and said that the illusion of erasing Iran from the map shows desperation against the will of a history-making nation.
Pezeshkian said that the Strait of Hormuz remains open to all nations except Iran’s enemies.
In a post on X, he said, “The illusion of erasing Iran from the map shows desperation against the will of a history-making nation. Threats and terror only strengthen our unity. The Strait of Hormuz is open to all except those who violate our soil. We firmly confront delirious threats on the battlefield.”
Meanwhile, the Foreign Minister of Iran, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, said that freedom of navigation cannot exist without freedom of trade, and that the Strait of Hormuz is open.
In a post on X, he said, “Strait of Hormuz is not closed. Ships hesitate because insurers fear the war of choice you initiated–not Iran. No insurer–and no Iranian–will be swayed by more threats. Try respect. Freedom of Navigation cannot exist without Freedom of Trade. Respect both–or expect neither.”
Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, MB Ghalibaf, said that Iran would target the entities that fund the US military budget.
In a post on X, Ghalibaf said, “Alongside military bases, those financial entities that finance the US military budget are legitimate targets. US treasury bonds are soaked in Iranians’ blood. Purchase them, and you purchase a strike on your HQ and assets. We monitor your portfolios. This is your final notice.”
The United States and Iran have threatened to target critical infrastructure as the war in the Middle East, now in its fourth week, puts lives and livelihoods at risk throughout the region.
Iran said the Strait of Hormuz, crucial to oil and other exports, would be “completely closed” immediately if the US follows up on President Donald Trump’s threat to attack its power plants. Trump late Saturday set a 48-hour deadline to open the strait.
Israeli leaders visited one of two southern communities near a secretive nuclear research site struck by Iranian missiles late Saturday, with scores of people wounded. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it was a “miracle” no one was killed. Israel detected more Iranian missiles fired toward the area Sunday evening.
(With agency inputs)
