Iran has slammed the US blockade of its ports, calling it a “foolish and stupid decision,” and has demanded it be reversed.Iranswiftly reversed course onreopening the Strait of Hormuzyesterday,reimposing restrictionson the critical waterway after the US said the move would not end its blockade.

The escalating standoff is now pushing the two countries towards renewed conflict. Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, one of Iran’s main negotiators, warned that if the US does not lift the blockade, "traffic in the Strait of Hormuz will definitely be restricted." In a televised address, the speaker of Iran’s parliament also referred to his decision to reverse the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

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He said: "For several days they have blockaded the Strait of Hormuz... What a foolish and stupid decision... This is another mistake of theirs. If you do not lift the blockade, traffic in the Strait of Hormuz will definitely be restricted, and there is no doubt about it."

However, Trump said the US was having "very good conversations" on the topic, but gave no other details.

Ghalibaf also called Trump a "master of lying and psychological warfare." He said: "Yesterday he tweeted eight times, and seven of those were lies."

Asked about the prospects of a lasting peace deal, he said there had been “progress” but that is "still a big distance" between both sides with the ceasefire set to expire on Wednesday.

He said there are just one or two outstanding issues, but there are "some issues on which we insist".

Last night the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy said the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the US blockade on Iranian ports is lifted.

Source: Daily Express :: World Feed