Iran senior adviser rejects Trump claim of Hormuz reopening

A senior Iranian military adviser has forcefully rejected U.S. President Donald Trump's claims of imminent diplomatic progress, warning that Iran will not permit any shipping route through the strategic Strait of Hormuz other than the one it designates. The exchange on August 3 highlighted a stark and widening gap between the two nations' accounts of ongoing engagement and the status of the critical waterway.

Mohsen Rezaee, a senior military adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader, stated that Iran would target U.S. warships if they attempted to use an unauthorized route. He accused the United States of violating a prior agreement, referencing the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding. Rezaee claimed the U.S. had accepted Iran's arrangements for the strait under that deal but later breached it by launching attacks without first using a designated dispute-resolution mechanism. He asserted that Iran responded with severe blows against U.S. forces in subsequent fighting.

These remarks were a direct rebuttal to statements made by President Trump. Speaking to reporters, Trump said discussions were underway to "completely" reopen the Strait of Hormuz, suggesting progress could come as early...