Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, stated on March 16 that the Iranian government aims to reduce tensions but will not surrender, emphasizing the need to end the cycle of ceasefires and renewed conflicts. Ghalibaf also declared that the Strait of Hormuz, closed since the start of the war on March 6, will not return to its previous legal status and asserted Iran's right to attack U.S. bases in neighboring countries.
