A senior adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, Mohsen Rezaei, has described the Strait of Hormuz as more important than “dozens of nuclear bombs,” underscoring the strategic significance of the vital maritime chokepoint and vowing that Iran will defend it.
Speaking on Sunday, Rezaei said the Strait of Hormuz is a key pillar of Iran’s defense strategy and plays a decisive role in safeguarding the country’s national security and interests.
“The strategic waterway is more important than dozens of nuclear bombs, and the Islamic Republic of Iran will protect it,” he said, according to Iran’s state-run media.
Western governments have long accused Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons, an allegation Tehran has consistently denied, insisting that its nuclear program is intended solely for peaceful civilian purposes.
Rezaei also described the Strait of Hormuz as a strategic deterrent, saying Iran would rely on its own military capabilities to defend its national interests.
The remarks came as military tensions between Iran and the United States remained high. Iranian forces reportedly launched missile and drone attacks targeting U.S. military facilities in the Gulf region, while Tehran again announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz until further notice.
The renewed escalation follows the collapse of a ceasefire, with U.S. President Donald Trump declaring that the truce had ended, although he said the door to further negotiations with Iran remains open.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical energy transit routes, carrying a significant share of global oil and liquefied natural gas exports. Any disruption to shipping through the waterway has the potential to trigger sharp increases in global energy prices.
