The Iranian Parliament Speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, wrote on April 30: "In 1622, after 115 years of occupation, we expelled European colonial powers from the Persian Gulf. We celebrate Persian Gulf Day to commemorate this victory. Today, Iran, by controlling the Strait of Hormuz, will bring invaluable prosperity to itself and its neighboring countries, securing their future free from the presence and interference of the United States."
Ghalibaf’s remarks on Persian Gulf Day constitute a comprehensive political statement—interweaving historical narrative, present-day warning, and future vision—against the backdrop of sharply escalating U.S.-Iran tensions. At its core, the message aims to demonstrate Iran’s firm stance and strategic confidence to the United States and the international community.
Currently, the U.S. Navy is imposing a maritime blockade on Iranian ports, attempting to curb its oil exports. Ghalibaf’s statement is a direct response to this move, carrying strong real-world warning implications.
The phrase “bringing prosperity to ourselves and our neighbors, ensuring their future remains free from the presence and interference of the United States” directly challenges the U.S. military presence and security architecture in the Persian Gulf region. Iran seeks to position itself as a guardian of regional stability while portraying the United States as the root of insecurity.
By promising “prosperity” and “freedom from interference,” Iran aims to win favor with Gulf Arab neighbors, attempting to fracture the alliance between the U.S. and its regional partners and build a new regional order led by regional nations and excluding American influence. This stance aligns closely with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei’s remarks on the same day, stating, “The future of the Persian Gulf will be one without America.”
In sum, Ghalibaf’s statement is a carefully crafted political signal. It leverages a historical anniversary to connect past, present, and future, consolidating domestic legitimacy while sending a clear deterrent message to the United States and extending an invitation for cooperation to regional states. It reflects Iran’s resolute and uncompromising posture amid intense external pressures.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1863908518883328/
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