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

Palestinian media in Gaza report that two people were killed in two separate IDF raids today in the Gaza Strip, one in Deir al-Balah, where a man was killed inside a vehicle, and another in Khan Younis.

“A million children are praying the Rosary for peace and unity in the world. I extend my heartfelt thanks to all the boys and girls in so many parts of the world who are joining in this prayer. May they set an example, so that peoples may be freed from the scourge of war. In particular, let us pray for the Holy Land and the innocent victims of war.” These were the words of the Pope at the Angelus. Just yesterday, the funerals of two Christian women were held in Gaza, who died in an Israeli airstrike; the Patriarch of Jerusalem, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, also expressed his condolences for them.

An oil tanker was hit by a projectile in the Strait of Hormuz, sustaining damage to its engine room. This was reported by the UKMTO (United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre). It is not yet clear who carried out the attack, nor when it took place. According to the UKMTO, the crew are safe.

“The admission by the NATO Secretary-General that over 5,000 American fighter jets took off from bases in Europe to attack Iran was significant.” This was stated by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who added that “the Europeans should explain why they played an active role in the war against Iran. They should reconsider their attitude towards us.” Meanwhile, Araghchi referred to reports that the United States had expelled the Iranian delegation from New York following the recent UN General Assembly, stating that “regardless of the veracity of this report, we travelled to New York and left according to our pre-arranged schedule. However, this claim by the US side is truly bizarre”.

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.

Overnight, Saudi warplanes targeted the town of Abs, in the province of Hajjah, Yemen. A few hours earlier, several Arab sources reported explosions in Buqayq, Saudi Arabia, following a ballistic missile attack by Yemeni forces. Sources in the region also reported loud explosions near Riyadh airport.