Iran insisted Monday that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed, rejecting what it described as U.S. attempts to dictate the terms for ending the conflict.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran has received messages from Washington through mediators but is not engaged in direct talks with the United States. He stressed that Iran will not allow the U.S. to determine the conditions for ending the war.

Baghaei also warned Ukraine over what he described as an attack on an Iranian vessel, calling the incident a violation of international law and vowing that it “will not go unanswered.” He cautioned Ukraine’s Western backers that they could also face consequences.

Addressing the recently signed U.S.-Saudi civilian nuclear agreement, Baghaei reiterated that Iran considers the peaceful use of nuclear energy to be a universal right. He argued that international pressure on Tehran has stemmed from Iran’s exercise of that right and said the world should judge the issue for itself.

The remarks come as tensions remain high across the region and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz continues to face major disruptions.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)