Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, Speaker of Iran’s Parliament, claimed that the country’s “deterrence capability” would prevent Israel from launching another war against Iran. He also stressed that Tehran would not allow any US interference in the strategic Strait of Hormuz. According to the Daneshjoo News Agency, Qalibaf said on Friday that Iran considers any US presence or interference in the Strait of Hormuz unacceptable and would not permit it. He added that Tehran would remove existing obstacles to facilitate the passage of Chinese vessels through the strategic waterway, saying China had stood by Iran “during difficult times.” Qalibaf also called for strengthening ties between Tehran and Beijing, saying recent regional developments, particularly in the aftermath of the latest war, have created conditions that make closer strategic cooperation between the two countries more necessary than ever. He expressed hope that relations between Iran and China would continue to expand across political, economic, and strategic fields.
