Iran has reiterated its conditions for the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, demanding that the US regime halt its military campaign and release Iranian funds held abroad. Mohsen Rezaei, the newly appointed head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, conveyed this message to China's ambassador in Tehran.
"As long as the US does not change its behavior and accept Iran's conditions, the Strait of Hormuz will not be reopened," Rezaei was quoted as saying by Iranian media. He also insisted on an end to the US naval blockade of Iranian ports and a region-wide ceasefire, including in Gaza and Lebanon.
Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi visited Tehran, meeting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. The sides discussed closer political, economic, trade, cultural, and security ties, with Pakistan mediating efforts to end the conflict.
Qatar, another mediator, said talks between Iran and Oman on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz have reached an advanced stage. However, Iran stated that any agreement with Oman would not impact the reopening of the waterway.
Meanwhile, US Central Command reported that a US Navy helicopter fired Hellfire missiles to disable the steering gear of a Panama-flagged cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz, allegedly for ignoring warnings about violating the naval blockade of Iranian ports.
In the southern Red Sea, four crew members were killed in a suspected Houthi attack on a small cargo vessel in the Bab al-Mandeb strait, according to Yemen's Transport Ministry. This marks the first fatalities from Houthi strikes on shipping since the war on Iran began. The Houthis also claimed an attack on a Saudi ship, though Saudi Arabia has not responded.
The conflict, which began on February 28, has resulted in thousands of casualties. The US and Israeli regimes have launched strikes on Iran, while Iran has targeted US assets in Oman, Jordan, Kuwait, Israel, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia. In Iran, at least 3,527 people have been killed and over 27,000 wounded. At least 18 Americans have also died.
The war has also spread to Lebanon, where Iran-backed Hezbollah has attacked Israel, and Israeli forces have conducted near-daily strikes. Lebanon's Health Ministry reports over 4,300 killed and more than 12,000 injured since March 2. In Israel, at least 60 people have been killed in Iranian and Hezbollah attacks.
Source: www.aljazeera.com