Iran has denied reports that it offered to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in return for the US lifting its naval blockade, with the IRGC-affiliated Tasnim news agency saying Tehran has made no fresh proposal to Pakistani mediators.Citing sources, Tasnim said reports by a Saudi Arabian outlet claiming that Iran had conveyed such an offer to Washington through Pakistan were “a lie and fabrication”, Press TV reported.The reports had suggested that Tehran was willing to reopen the strategic waterway if the US ended its naval blockade.On October 18, Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi had said Tehran’s proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days remained on the table. He made the remarks while speaking to Iranian media in Baghdad.“Our situation is clear and based on the seven-days proposal presented to the US. They shared comments which we are reviewing… If there is any honesty on the US part, which there isn’t, the way to reopening the Strait of Hormuz is obvious,” he said.The denial comes as US President Donald Trump has maintained that a deal with Iran remains possible, while keeping the option of further military action open. He has insisted that any agreement must permanently prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons.Trump also threatened fresh military action against Iran if it fails to reach a diplomatic agreement with Washington, suggesting that the US could launch “another little Epic Fury”.Speaking at a campaign rally in Florida, Trump adopted a hardline stance towards Tehran, referring to previous US military action and warning that further strikes remained an option if negotiations failed.“We may do another little Epic Fury, or they’ll agree,” Trump told the cheering crowd.Questioning Iran’s willingness to negotiate, he added, “If they’re smart, they’ll just say, ‘Let’s get down to business. But, you know, I doubt they’ll do that because perhaps they’re not smart.”
Iran claims full control over Strait of Hormuz
Amid the escalating rhetoric, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Saturday claimed that Iran retained full control over the Strait of Hormuz, adding that vessels operating in the region were being provided security in accordance with Iranian regulations.The IRGC Navy also alleged that two supertankers carrying more than 4.5 million barrels of crude oil combined had struck naval mines while attempting to navigate a southern route through the waterway that Tehran described as unauthorised.Iran has separately warned that it would not allow US military vessels to enter the Persian Gulf, pushing back against Washington’s claims that Iranian military capabilities had been significantly weakened.According to Iranian state broadcaster Press TV, Major General Ali Abdollahi, chief of the general staff of Iran’s armed forces, said Iranian forces had rendered the US Navy ineffective in the region.“The US president must only dream of their military and army entering the Persian Gulf again. They will take this wish to their graves,” Abdollahi said.“We will under no circumstances and at no time allow US military vessels to enter the Persian Gulf,” he added.Abdollahi also challenged Trump’s repeated assertions that Iran’s nuclear facilities had been destroyed, questioning why Washington continued to express concerns over Tehran’s nuclear programme if the facilities had already been eliminated.
