Iran's top negotiator and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf has warned the United States that any further military action against Iran would be met with retaliation, saying the Strait of Hormuz would reopen only under "Iranian arrangements" as hostilities between the two countries intensified for a second consecutive day.
In a post on X on Thursday, Ghalibaf accused Washington of breaking its commitments and pursuing a policy of intimidation.
"The US has yet to learn that bullying and breaking its commitments no longer come without a cost," he wrote.
"Let me be clear: if you strike, you'll get hit."
He also rejected US efforts to secure the Strait of Hormuz through military action, saying, "The Strait of Hormuz will be reopened only under Iranian arrangements, not through US threats."
Fresh military escalation
Qalibaf's remarks came hours after the United States launched a fresh wave of air strikes against Iran for the second straight day.
According to US Central Command (CENTCOM), American forces struck around 90 Iranian military targets, including:
- Air defence systems
- Coastal surveillance assets
- Missile and drone storage sites
- Naval capabilities
- Military logistics infrastructure along Iran's coastline
Washington said the strikes were aimed at degrading Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping and freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz after attacks on commercial vessels earlier this week.
Iran retaliates
Iran responded by launching missile and drone attacks targeting US military facilities in Kuwait and Bahrain, further raising fears of a wider regional conflict.
The latest exchange of strikes has significantly undermined hopes of preserving the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between Washington and Tehran on June 17 to halt hostilities.
Trump says ceasefire 'over'
Speaking ahead of the NATO summit in Türkiye on Wednesday, US President Donald Trump said he believed the ceasefire agreement with Iran had effectively collapsed.
"It's a very interesting question. To me, I think it's over. I don't want to deal with them anymore," Trump said.
He earlier described the latest US strikes as retaliation for Iran's alleged attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
