Who Is Telling the Truth? Iranian Diplomat Says There Is No Intention to Block the Strait of Hormuz

According to The Financial News, on the 12th (local time), Mojtaba Khamenei made his first public appearance since being elevated as the new supreme leader and declared that the Islamic Republic of Iran would block the Strait of Hormuz. In stark contrast, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations delivered the opposite message.
Ali Bahreini, Permanent Representative of Iran to the United Nations, stressed in an interview with Euronews, "Tehran has absolutely no intention of blocking the Strait of Hormuz." He added, "The current crisis in the Strait of Hormuz is the result of a war imposed on the region," and continued, "The Islamic Republic of Iran is working to keep this passage safe, and as long as Iran is not attacked, it will remain open to all countries."
Bahreini’s remarks directly contradict reports from international intelligence agencies that the Islamic Republic of Iran is planning to lay mines in the strait. They are also seen as a conciliatory move aimed at calming jitters in the global energy market.
However, only a few hours after the ambassador’s interview was released, the first official statement by the new supreme leader, Khamenei, broadcast by Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, took the opposite line.
Mojtaba, who was named successor after his father Ali Hosseini Khamenei was killed in an explosion on the 28th of last month, declared, "We will keep the Strait of Hormuz closed in order to put pressure on our enemies."
In particular, Mojtaba had been reported to be in critical condition or unable to move after being wounded in the first airstrike that killed his father last month. His latest statement is seen as an attempt to demonstrate that he remains firmly in control. Yet, because the message was read out without any public appearance by him, questions persist over who actually holds real power.
Euronews reported that Western intelligence agencies are divided over whether these conflicting messages from the Iranian leadership reflect a breakdown in the chain of command in the early stages of the war, or a deliberate strategy of confusion.
Meanwhile, tensions at sea have reached a peak. On the 11th, two Marshall Islands-flagged, Greece-owned tankers came under attack in waters near the Republic of Iraq, leaving at least one person dead. In the aftermath, international oil prices briefly surged above 100 dollars per barrel.
As provocations by Tehran continue in the Strait of Hormuz, through which about one-fifth of the world’s petroleum and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) shipments pass, concerns are mounting over the potential impact on the global economy.
Ambassador Bahreini to the United Nations stated, "The economic damage will be the same for the Islamic Republic of Iran, but our people have strong economic and military resilience," signaling a willingness to endure a prolonged confrontation.

jjyoon@fnnews.com Reporter Yoon Jae-joon Reporter