WANA (Aug 16) – Iran’s Army Commander, Major General Amir Hatami, described the Strait of Hormuz as a strategic geopolitical asset for Iran, saying the waterway will not return to its previous status following recent developments and that Iran will defend it with all its capabilities.

 

Hatami said Iran had long recognized the strategic value of the Strait, but recent developments had activated its potential. He stressed that any cost incurred to preserve this strategic asset would be worthwhile, adding that the Strait of Hormuz has now become one of the requirements for ending the war. According to Hatami, the leverage must be used in a way that ultimately removes the threat of war from Iran.

 

The US Has No Place in the Region

The Army commander said the expulsion of US forces from the region had already taken place and that the United States would no longer be allowed to enter the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman or the Strait of Hormuz. He also said Iran would not allow US military bases and facilities in neighboring countries to return to their previous status.

 

Hatami said the recent conflict had, in his view, shattered the perceived military dominance of the United States and prompted regional countries to seek more independent approaches to their security.

 

Hatami: USS Abraham Lincoln Was Hit

The Army commander also spoke about the USS Abraham Lincoln, saying the aircraft carrier had been hit by an Iranian projectile at least once.

 

He added that, following the incident, the fighter jets aboard the carrier were unable to take off for a period of time and that the carrier is now heading back.

 

Hatami also said Iran’s recent missile and drone strikes against US positions, particularly in Jordan, demonstrated that Iran has the ability to reach opposing forces and penetrate various air-defense systems.

 

Iran Strengthens Its Defensive Capabilities

The Army commander said Iran is rapidly rebuilding its offensive and defensive capabilities, adding that the country has preserved its defensive capacity while also adding new capabilities.

 

He said the recent restructuring of Iran’s armed forces has made the country better prepared for any further military escalation, warning that Iran’s adversaries should not repeat their previous assessments of the country’s defensive capabilities.

 

Hatami also said the opposing side had believed it could achieve its objectives within two or three days, but that calculation had failed. He stressed that what the United States describes as the “Iran issue” has no military solution.

 

Hatami: Trump’s Image Is That of a Major Loser

Hatami also described the US president as “a major loser,” saying he is making considerable efforts to portray himself as a winner, while fewer people around the world are taking him seriously.

 

He said the image being projected of the US president is that of someone who, according to reports, hid inside a food truck out of fear while leaving other government officials and journalists behind on an aircraft that the US Secret Service had warned could be under threat. Hatami said such scenes were evidence, in his view, of the image of “a major loser,” rather than a victorious leader.

 

Hatami also referred to Trump’s remarks about the Strait of Hormuz, saying that the activation of the Strait’s strategic potential was one of the “legacies” of the US president’s actions in the region.

 

$30,000 Reward

The Army commander also announced a $30,000 reward, equivalent to around 5 billion Iranian tomans, for any Iranian who captures or kills a US service member described as an aggressor. He said the reward would be doubled for women.

 

Hatami concluded by reiterating the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, saying it would not return to its previous status and that Iran would defend the waterway with all its capabilities, following the orders of Iran’s Commander-in-Chief.