IRAN  - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of Iran's Armed Forces says Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei makes the decision about closing the Strait of Hormuz.

The Armed Forces have their plans for every situation, but the decision to close the Strait of Hormuz is one that has to be made by the Leader, Major General Hassan Firouzabadi said on Sunday.

"The presence and role of the US in the region is aimed at defending the interests of super-capitalism, the US and Israel in the region," he noted.

The Iranian commander added that the US seeks to assure the Persian Gulf's Arab countries they will keep their export routes and shipping lanes open.

•  
  • Firouzabadi said the US extorts from the oil-rich Arab countries under different pretexts, "one day by establishing the Zionist regime (Israel), one day by arming [executed Iraqi dictator] Saddam [Hussein] and one day by using the pretext of Iran's missiles and deploying anti-missile systems."

On July 7, Firouzabadi said as a "Shia nation that acts reasonably," Iran does not plan to close the Strait of Hormuz unless its interests are seriously threatened.

Iran's Majlis is also preparing a motion according to which the Islamic Republic would close the Strait of Hormuz for as long as anti-Tehran sanctions are in effect.

On June 14, Commander of Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy Ali Fadavi said Iran has the ability to close the strait and has proved its capability during the eight years of imposed war with Iraq.