Commander of the Revolutionary Guard Threatens to Close the Strait of Hormuz

Following Hassan Rouhani's implicit threat regarding 'oil exports from the region, in the absence of Iranian oil exports', the commander of the Revolutionary Guard also threatened on Thursday, July 5: 'In a possible situation... it can be made clear to the enemies what the use of the Strait of Hormuz means for everyone or for no one.' According to Tasnim News Agency, Mohammad Ali Jafari, the commander of the Revolutionary Guard, described Rouhani's recent positions as 'decisive' and stated that the country's executive officials are 'taking a revolutionary approach and perspective in today's battlefield against the enemy', especially the United States. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani stated on Tuesday in Switzerland: 'It makes no sense for Iranian oil not to be exported while oil from the region is exported.' He also addressed the U.S. government without elaboration, saying: 'If you can do this, go ahead and see the result.' Regarding Rouhani's remarks, a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department told Radio Farda that the United States would not respond to every statement made by Iranian officials. On the other hand, Bill Urban, a spokesperson for the U.S. Central Command, said on Wednesday to the Associated Press: 'The U.S. Navy and its allies in the region are prepared to maintain freedom of navigation and free trade wherever international law permits.' However, after the Iranian president's statements were published, two senior Revolutionary Guard officials reiterated the threat of 'closing the Strait of Hormuz if necessary', but a senior parliament representative stated that Rouhani did not mean to close the strait. Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force of the Revolutionary Guard, wrote in a letter to Rouhani that his remarks about 'if the oil of the Islamic Republic of Iran is not exported, there is no guarantee for the export of oil from the entire region' and his comments about Israel are 'a source of pride and honor'. Ismail Kowsari, deputy commander of the 'Quds Force' of the Guard, also stated that if 'necessary', Iran will close the Strait of Hormuz. However, Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh, the new head of the National Security Commission of Parliament, and Masoud Goudarzi, a member of this commission, stated on Thursday that Rouhani's intention was not 'to close the Strait of Hormuz' and that 'Rouhani's oil threat was not a declaration of war'. Donald Trump, the President of the United States, announced on May 8 that the JCPOA did not contribute to global peace and that the Islamic Republic continued its missile activities and 'support for terrorism', declaring the U.S. withdrawal from this agreement and the re-imposition of sanctions against Iran. According to a table announced on Tuesday by Brian Hook, the U.S. State Department's policy director, a new round of sanctions, which includes the automotive sector and gold trade in Iran, will begin on August 4, and sanctions on oil, energy, and banking transactions will also be imposed from November 4. In recent weeks, negotiations between Iran and three European countries aimed at 'saving the JCPOA despite U.S. sanctions' have been ongoing, and Iranian media reported that the proposed package from these countries has been presented to Iran. Donald Trump had previously emphasized that European companies continuing to trade with Iran would be subject to U.S. sanctions.