Majlessi: By blockading the Strait of Hormuz, the US portrays itself as the defender of global interests
‘We must save ourselves from war’, says the former Iranian diplomat
Fereydoun Majlessi, Jahan Sanat newspaper, 15 April 2026
Chand Saniyeh: Majlesi said that by blockading the Strait of Hormuz, the Americans would present themselves as defenders of global interests and portray Iran as an extortionate country in the region.
In an assessment of the latest Tehran–Washington relations, Fereydoun Majlessi, a former diplomat, told Chand Saniyeh:
“Regarding a naval blockade of Iran, we must consider what Washington defines as success or failure. Will the United States succeed in blockading Iran, or will the Islamic Republic of Iran succeed in not surrendering despite being under blockade?”
He stated:
‘We must acknowledge that the continuation of a blockade can jeopardise the livelihood of the society under siege. Therefore, the best course of action is to either prevent such a blockade from happening or find a way out of it. The paths we see for continuing the war, especially against the US military, would impose heavy costs on Iran and the region.
Majlessi added:
“By blockading the Strait of Hormuz, the Americans will present themselves as defenders of global interests and depict Iran as a coercive regional power. For this reason, they may not even attempt to deliver a decisive defeat. The longer the blockade continues, the more hostility will be directed towards Iran, resulting in greater damage for Tehran and others. This is something that Israel, more than other adversaries, is seeking.”
He said: “In a potential conflict with Iran, Trump is looking for a rational approach that involves paying the price for past negligence and shortcomings. Given the recent disputes over regional and nuclear issues, we must currently focus on avoiding war.”
The former diplomat added that Iran is a wealthy and large country and that, by continuing along the path of development, it will naturally reach a level of power that will remove all limitations in the future.
Majlessi concluded:
“Regarding the evaluation of negotiations, especially possible talks in the coming days, I hope they will lead to a favourable outcome. I hope that, even by setting aside nuclear development, we can halt the war in the long term.”