WANA (Jul 10) – Tehran’s interim Friday prayer leader, Hojjatoleslam Aboutorabi-Fard, said Iran “will not, under any circumstances, allow the United States to interfere in the affairs of the Strait of Hormuz,” adding that U.S. forces had failed in efforts to remove the strategic waterway from the control of Iran’s armed forces.

 

He said the U.S. military had used “all of its capabilities” over the past four months to take the Strait of Hormuz “out of the control of the country’s armed forces,” but “suffered bitter defeats in all operations” and sustained heavy losses.

 

Aboutorabi-Fard praised Iran’s armed forces, including the Army and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), for maintaining Iran’s authority over the strategic waterway, ensuring its security in the interests of user states, and responding decisively to what he described as U.S. military provocations.

 

Referring to the recent funeral ceremonies, he described the large public turnout in Iran and Iraq as a manifestation of collective patience, unity, and solidarity, saying national cohesion had strengthened the Islamic world.

 

He also said the Iranian public expects the country’s diplomatic team to negotiate with “strength and authority,” urging Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to promote what he described as the “theory of resistance” in negotiations.

 

Aboutorabi-Fard further accused the United States of violating the Iran-U.S. memorandum of understanding through unilateral actions and military attacks, saying Iran remains more determined than ever to defend its national interests and those of its regional allies.

 

He concluded by saying national unity remains the cornerstone of resistance against external threats and asserted that calls for retribution over the killing of Iran’s late leader reflect the convictions of Muslims and “freedom-seeking people” around the world.