Iran linked the re-opening of the Strait of Hormuz to the end of the regional war

IRAN LINKED THE REOPENING OF THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ TO AN END TO THE WAR IN THE MIDDLE EAST. THE SECRETARY OF THE SUPREME NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL OF IRAN, MOHSEN REZAI, STATED THAT ANY AGREEMENT WITH THE UNITED STATES IN THE STRAITS OF HORMUZ WOULD INCLUDE AN END TO THE WAR IN LEBANON, GAZA AND SYRIA. HE STRESSED THAT THE CONFLICT IN THE GAZA STRIP MUST END AND DEMANDED THAT ISRAEL WITHDRAW FROM LEBANON. NOTING THAT THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ CANNOT BE SEPARATED FROM WIDER REGIONAL CONFLICTS, REZAI STRESSED THAT THE UNITED STATES MUST “PROVE ITS SERIOUSNESS” IN IMPLEMENTING THESE COMMITMENTS. HOWEVER, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL REPORTED THAT THE TRUMP GOVERNMENT WAS NOT INTERESTED IN RESUMING THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH IRAN IN JUNE, AND PRESIDENT TRUMP WISHED TO SEE WHETHER ITS STRATEGY OF ECONOMIC PRESSURE ON IRAN WAS EFFECTIVE. ON MONDAY, THE UNITED STATES ANNOUNCED AN “ECONOMIC DAY D” OPERATION AGAINST TEHRAN, THREATENING COUNTRIES WITH WHICH IRAN HAS COMMERCIAL CONTACTS. REZAI STATED THAT IRAN CURRENTLY ALLOWED SHIPS TO PASS THROUGH THE “TEMPORARY AND LIMITED” CORRIDORS OF THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ AND THAT FUTURE MARITIME TRAFFIC WOULD DEPEND ON PROGRESS IN UNDERSTANDING WITH WASHINGTON。