TEHRAN : Iranian officials have repeatedly described the Strait of Hormuz as a “red line” since the escalation of the US-Israel conflict with Tehran. Brigadier-General Ebrahim Zolfaghari’s latest statement reinforced that position, warning that Iran would not allow outside powers to challenge what it sees as its role in managing the waterway.
The timing of the warning is significant, as US President Donald Trump has repeatedly spoken about targeting Iran’s energy and infrastructure facilities if tensions continue to rise. Iranian military officials have said that if the US carries out further attacks on Iranian infrastructure, Tehran could respond by striking infrastructure across the region.
Iran’s military headquarters said the country’s restraint so far should not be seen as a lack of capability, but as a deliberate policy choice. It warned that this restraint would end if Washington escalates attacks on Iranian targets.
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The warning was also echoed by Iran’s chief negotiator and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who said Iran’s national security depends on maintaining what he called “Iranian arrangements” in the Strait of Hormuz. He accused Iran’s enemies of trying to undermine that position by force.
Tehran’s message is not limited to temporary control of the Strait. Iranian officials are signalling that they view permanent authority and sovereignty over the strategic waterway as central to the country’s security.
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