Control of the strait acts as a primary source of leverage that can affect the lives of billions, Mokhber said. He credited the country's current military success to a missile program prioritized by the slain Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, arguing that the acquisition of 500 F-35 fighter jets would have been less effective than the existing missile capabilities.
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
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Iran Claims No Choice But to Assert Control Over Strait of Hormuz
Commodities1 day ago
First Vice President Aref told the IRNA state news agency that the government must maintain authority over the critical waterway to prevent the nation from suffering further losses. Government official Mokhber added that Tehran would strike 9 countries if its petrochemical plants or power facilities were targeted, describing the threat as the state's greatest deterrent. Mokhber rejected calls to yield the strait to avoid other losses, comparing the suggestion to the 1828 Treaty of Turkmenchay in which Iran ceded territory to Russia.
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