Iran: ‘We’ve received proposals from the US, but the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed unless our conditions are met’

Iran intends to ‘increase the speed and range’ of the missiles at its disposal, because ‘the enemy is now much further from the country’s coastline’ than in the early stages of the conflict, a distance that extends ‘up to a thousand kilometres’: according to Mohammad Akraminia, spokesperson for the Iranian armed forces. The same spokesperson, quoted by Fars, added that the Iranian missiles deployed so far during the war – in particular those used to strike enemy (US) bases in Kuwait and the anti-ship cruise missiles used against enemy vessels – have nevertheless proved highly effective. However, the plan now is to increase these military capabilities. “Iran has already embarked on this path, and future generations of our missiles, which will enter operational service, will have even greater capabilities,” explained Akraminia.

The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have confirmed that they carried out an attack overnight against senior Hamas figure Ali al-Amoudi, whilst noting, however, that the results of the attack are still being verified. Palestinian media have reported that the attack, carried out in Gaza City, resulted in the deaths of five people, including four women.

The army stated that the attack targeted Amoudi whilst he was in a flat “used for terrorist activities, inside a residential block”, and that measures had been taken to “minimise harm to civilians as much as possible”.

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, chief negotiator and Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, stated that Washington had put forward “a number of proposals via a mediator” after Tehran had proposed a seven-day roadmap for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. However, he stressed that the US must be aware “that the era of wasting time and imposing unilateral demands is over”, that Iran’s position remains “clear and definitive” and that ‘the Strait of Hormuz will not be reopened until our seven conditions, based on the Islamabad Memorandum, have been met’. This was reported by Al Jazeera. “Iran is not a country that bases its grand strategy and national security on tweets or daily interviews by American officials. We base our actions on the enemy’s actual conduct, not on media rhetoric or false dichotomies,” he added, as quoted by the IRNA news agency.