A top Iranian official accused the U.S. of violating the ceasefire in the Middle East with its blockade of Iranian ports.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf asserted the violation in a social media post one day after a tense start to President Trump’s “Project Freedom,” an operation to guide merchant vessels out of the Strait of Hormuz and fire on Iranian ships that interfere.
“The security of shipping and energy transit has been jeopardized by the United States and its allies through the violation of the ceasefire and the imposition of a blockade; of course, their evil will diminish,” Mr. Ghalibaf wrote on X.
Iran is using the Strait of Hormuz, which carries a fifth of the world’s oil, as leverage in peace talks in its war with the U.S. and Israel.
Mr. Trump late Sunday ordered the Navy to escort ships through the strait.
The Maersk shipping giant said one of its ships successfully transited the strait on Monday, marking an early success of the operation.
SEE ALSO: Iran threatens ships as Trump launches mission to reopen Strait of Hormuz
However, the United Arab Emirates reported renewed attacks by Iran on its ships and an oil facility, raising fears of renewed tensions and economic fallout from the conflict.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that as Pakistan mediates peace talks, “the U.S. should be wary of being dragged back into quagmire by ill-wishers. So should the UAE.”
“Project Freedom is Project Deadlock,” he wrote Tuesday on X.
Mr. Trump says he ordered a military operation against Tehran to prevent it from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
He faces pressure from allies and some voters at home to wind down the war, especially before the November midterm elections.
The national average price of a gallon of gas stood at $4.48 on Tuesday, a 40-cent increase from a week ago and nearly $1.50 higher than at the start of the war on Feb. 28, according to the AAA motor club.
SEE ALSO: Trump says U.S. attacked Iranian boats, urges allies hurt by Strait of Hormuz closure to help
Mr. Trump says the economic squeeze will ease and be worth it to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon.
Mr. Ghalibaf on Tuesday suggested Iran is poised to withstand more pain than the U.S.
“We know full well that the continuation of the status quo is intolerable for America; while we have not even begun yet,” he wrote.
