Iran lawmaker: Hormuz will not return to pre-war conditions

A senior Iranian lawmaker announced on Sunday that the Strait of Hormuz will not revert to its pre-war conditions, asserting that the restriction of the strategic waterway is now a permanent policy ordered by the Supreme Leader. “We will by no means return the Strait of Hormuz to its previous state, because this is an order from the Leader of the Islamic Revolution,” Ali Nikzad, second deputy speaker of the Iranian parliament, told Mehr News Agency. He also dismissed US President Donald Trump’s nuclear demands, asking: “Who is Trump in the world to decide this?” referring to Trump’s insistence that Iran cannot have nuclear capability.

Strategic stalemate

Since the US-Israeli war against Iran began on Feb. 28, Tehran has maintained control over the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 20% of global oil supply passed before the conflict. In response, the US imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports on April 13, further disrupting energy shipments. The dual restrictions have hit global supplies, particularly affecting Asian economies. Washington and Tehran held talks in Islamabad two weeks ago but failed to reach an agreement. The negotiations followed a Pakistan-brokered two-week ceasefire on April 8, which Trump later extended. However, sticking points remain: the status of the strait, the US blockade, and Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile.