If US blocks Hormuz routes, Iran will not surrender, will continue to respond, Pezeshkian tells India Today

The war in Middle East has turned the Strait of Hormuz into a high-stakes pressure point, after Iran shut the strategic waterway following US-Israeli strikes and Washington imposed its own blockade. Iran has now hinged the possibility of reopening the waterway on Washington. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran is willing to work towards an internationally recognised maritime framework if the US ends its blockade and other activities against Iran.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with India Today Group Foreign Affairs Editor Geeta Mohan during his visit to New Delhi for the BRICS Summit, Pezeshkian said Iran was negotiating with Oman over a specific maritime framework for the strategic waterway.

Asked about the status of the waterway, Pezeshkian defended Iran's actions, saying Tehran was responding to attacks and pressure from the United States and its allies.

"You see, neither Hezbollah, nor us, I don't think initiated that. All of these groups are defending themselves," Pezeshkian said, arguing that Iran had been forced to respond to attacks against it. He questioned why the US was blocking regional routes while simultaneously bringing weapons into the region. "On what basis are the Americans attacking our region, and blocking our routes, and we should do nothing?" he asked.

"If we are alive, we have to respond. We will not respond when we are dead. So we are alive, and we will respond," Pezeshkian said.THE CONDITION FOR REOPENING HORMUZ

Pezeshkian made clear that the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz would be linked to an end to US pressure on Iran, including what he described as the American blockade and sanctions.

Blaming the sanctions for worsening conditions for ordinary Iranians, the Iranian President said, "If Americans stop this blockade and sanctions, you know, sanctions mean killing the patients, it means making people unemployed, it means poverty, discontent, and thousands of problems."

Washington, he argued, was putting pressure on civilians through economic measures after failing to achieve its objectives through military action.

"And now that they have not been able to reach their objectives through war, they are doing it through economic activities. They will fail," Pezeshkian said.- EndsPublished By: Anuja JhaPublished On: Sep 12, 2026 20:36 IST