US has to ask IRGC to use Strait of Hormuz: Zarif

If the US wants to enter the Strait of Hormuz, they will have to talk to the IRGC forces protecting it, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif has said.

“We believe that Iran will continue to sell its oil. We will continue to find buyers for our oil and we will continue to use the Strait of Hormuz as a safe transit passage for the sale of our oil,” Zarif said, speaking in New York on Wednesday at the Asia Society.

“If the United States takes the crazy measure of trying to prevent us from doing that, then it should be prepared for the consequences,” he warned.

Zarif accused Washington of pursuing a “very dangerous” policy toward Tehran. According to Zarif, President Trump was wrong if he thought tough sanctions could get Iran to change its policy.

“[Trump] thinks through further pressure on Iran, the so-called ‘maximum pressure policy,’ he can bring us to our knees. He’s mistaken,” Zarif said, quipping that Iranians were “allergic to pressure.”

Zarif also shot down the Trump administration’s earlier proposals for “new” negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program, saying the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) agreement was “the best deal that we could achieve.”

Earlier Wednesday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Iran would be ready to negotiate with the US on reducing tensions, but only if Washington treated Iran with respect, lifted sanctions and apologised “for their illegal actions.”