Iran Warns Hormuz Will Stay Under Its Control as U.S. Talks Waver

Amid tense nuclear and regional talks with the United States in Switzerland, senior Iranian officials issued unusually blunt threats on Wednesday. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, who also heads Iran’s negotiating delegation, said the Strait of Hormuz will be run by Iran under Iranian arrangements and “will never return to the way it was before the war.” He added that Iran never trusted the Americans, does not trust them now, and should not trust them in the future.

Qalibaf’s remarks came as reports suggested the Swiss talks were in crisis after President Donald Trump hardened his tone and warned, “If there is no progress, I will do what I want.” Iran’s acting defense minister, Majid Aben al-Razza, also threatened a forceful military response if there is any “new miscalculation” by the attackers. He said Iranian forces are at the highest level of readiness and that any “foolish act” would be met with a harsher response that would leave the other side “more failed, more frustrated and more remorseful.”

Aben al-Razza said Iran is preparing to pursue diplomacy and military readiness at the same time, and can respond on the battlefield if the United States violates its commitments during negotiations. He said that during the talks and over the 60-day memorandum of understanding period, Iran will maintain, strengthen, and continue military preparedness across all areas.

The Iranian threats came amid conflicting accounts about the Swiss talks. Lebanon’s Hezbollah-linked Al Mayadeen reported that the Iranian delegation left the talks after Trump escalated his rhetoric and would not return without an American apology and an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon. But the mediators, Qatar and Pakistan, said overnight that the talks had taken place in a “positive and constructive atmosphere” and that a monitoring mechanism had been created “to prevent friction in Lebanon.” Trump said he remained confident, telling reporters, “I solve problems, I can solve problems fast,” while also warning, “If Iran does not stick to the memorandum of understanding, I will do what I have to do.” He added that Iran’s once-powerful air force and navy “are gone.”