President of Iran Масуд Пежшкиан sharply criticized former US President Donald Trump, saying he has no grounds to deny Iran its legitimate nuclear rights. Пежшкиан emphasized that the Islamic Republic seeks peace and stability in the region, acts solely in self-defense, and has no territorial ambitions toward neighboring countries it considers brothers. He also condemned Trump’s threats to “return Iran to the Stone Age,” calling them a vivid example of aggressive intentions toward his country.
Despite some progress in talks, Speaker of the Iranian Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said that achieving a final peace agreement with the US remains “far off.” He claims that it was Iran’s steadfastness on the battlefield that forced the Trump administration to request a ceasefire. This rhetoric reflects Tehran’s official position, which refuses to accept Washington’s unilateral conditions, especially regarding the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
As a lever of pressure, Iran has introduced new rules for transit through the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of the world’s oil traffic passes. Under the new protocol, priority is given to vessels that promptly comply with the rules and pay new security fees. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned that any attempt to transit the strait without permission will be regarded as cooperation with the enemy, and the violating vessel will become a target. This gives Tehran significant control over the key shipping route.
Earlier, Tehran had announced the opening of the strait after a temporary truce between Israel and Hezbollah, but then withdrew that decision when Trump insisted on maintaining a naval blockade of Iranian ports until a final deal was reached. Trump himself, on one hand, called talks with Iran “very good,” and on the other warned against attempts to “blackmail” the US and threatened to resume bombings if a long-term agreement is not achieved.
Ghalibaf retorted that movement through the Strait of Hormuz “will definitely remain limited” until the US lifts the blockade, stressing that Tehran will not reopen this trade route without that condition. Thus, the situation demonstrates a deep contradiction: Washington blends negotiating signals with threats, demanding a deal, while Tehran, in turn, uses control over the strait as a strategic trump card to achieve its main goal — the lifting of sanctions.
News Commentary
What specific role does the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) play in controlling the Strait of Hormuz and in Iranian politics overall? - The IRGC, as an elite military formation, is directly responsible for the security of the Strait of Hormuz — a critically important global oil route. This gives Iran a strategic lever of influence. Within the country, the IRGC is not just an army but a powerful politico-economic institution subordinate directly to the Supreme Leader. It controls key sectors of the economy, security services, and plays a decisive role in shaping domestic and foreign policy, acting as a stronghold of revolutionary ideology.
What is meant by Iran’s “nuclear rights,” referred to by President Пежшкиан, and why are they the subject of international dispute? - By “nuclear rights” Iran means its inalienable right, as a signatory of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), to develop the full range of a peaceful nuclear program, including uranium enrichment. International disputes, primarily with Western countries and the IAEA, arise from concerns that under the guise of a peaceful program Iran could be working toward developing nuclear weapons. Sanctions and restrictions are imposed to make a potential shift to a military program more difficult, while Iran insists on its sovereign right to technological development.
What are the historical and current relations between Iran and Hezbollah, and how does this connection affect regional dynamics, including the truce mentioned in the article? - Relations between Iran and Hezbollah were formed after the 1979 Islamic Revolution and are based on shared Shia ideology and opposition to Israel and the US. Iran is the main political, financial, military, and ideological patron of this Lebanese organization. This connection makes Hezbollah a key element of Iran’s influence strategy in the Middle East (the “axis of resistance”). Any regional truce or escalation (for example, between Israel and Hezbollah) is directly coordinated with Tehran, giving Iran a powerful tool of deterrence and negotiation, but also increasing the risk of being drawn into a wider conflict.
Full version: بزشكيان: لا يحق لترمب منع إيران من حقوقها النووية