Army chief: Strait of Hormuz stays closed until enemy respects Iranian nation’s rights

Commander of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army Major General Amir Hatami has said that the Strait of Hormuz remains closed and will stay so until the enemy fully respects the legitimate rights of the Iranian nation.

Speaking on Thursday evening at the closing ceremony of the 11th National I’tikaf Festival at the Imam Ali Officer University, General Hatami described the strategic waterway as a core pillar of the Islamic Republic’s geopolitical power.

“The Strait of Hormuz was closed immediately at the start of the war, remains closed today, and will remain closed until the enemy respects the rights of the Iranian nation,” he stated.

He stressed that the strait is under the complete supervision of Iran’s armed forces. The western section is managed by the IRGC Navy, while the eastern section and the Sea of Oman are controlled by the Army Navy. Claims that the waterway is open are false, he said. Traffic has been sharply restricted, and no hostile vessel has been able to enter Iranian maritime zones in the area except for a few that were engaged with multiple firings.

General Hatami placed the Hormuz decision in the context of the enemy’s miscalculations during the imposed war of aggression. The aggressors wrongly assessed Iran as being in a position of weakness, underestimated the steadfast support of the Iranian people despite years of pressure, and failed to understand the resilience of the country’s institutional structures.

Iranian forces continued operations even after the martyrdom of senior commanders, and government institutions kept functioning. As a result, the enemy achieved none of its military or strategic objectives.

The Army chief also warned that any threat to Iran’s infrastructure will trigger a response several times greater in scale, striking the infrastructure and interests of the opposing side, as well as the Israeli regime and any country that cooperates with it. Iran’s armed forces remain fully prepared along the borders for any scenario.

Iranian forces seized operational control of the Strait of Hormuz in response to the start of the US-Israeli aggression on February 28. Tehran has repeatedly stated that coordinated passage is possible only for non-hostile vessels after authorization from Iranian authorities, while hostile shipping linked to the aggressors remains barred. Illegal routes created by violators have also been targeted for closure.

Iran has linked any full reopening to the restoration of its national rights, including an end to aggression, lifting of illegal sanctions and blockades, and fulfillment of commitments under previous understandings.

Officials have emphasized that the country’s sovereignty over its maritime domain is non-negotiable and that the strait will continue to serve as strategic leverage until those rights are respected.