TEHRAN, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- A senior Iranian military advisor has said the country will soon close the routes created by "violators" in the Strait of Hormuz.
Mohammad-Reza Naqdi, advisor to the chief commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps, made the remarks in an interview published on Tuesday night with state-run Al-Alam news channel while elaborating on the latest situation of the Strait of Hormuz.
He said the Strait of Hormuz is closed, and the Iranian armed forces have full control over it, stressing that this situation will continue unless Iran's "legitimate" demands are met.
He added that although the strait is closed, "some individuals use small vessels to smuggle oil and transfer it to oil tankers," emphasizing, "The few passages created by violators through the explosion or destruction of some rocky routes in the Strait of Hormuz will soon be closed."
Shifting to the range of Iran's weapons, he said technical issues are not the reason why Iran keeps its weapons' range limited, but the country's policies.
Naqdi said the range of Iran's weapons is determined based on the decisions made by the country's authorities and Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei and according to the needs. He noted that whenever authorization is granted, the weapons' range will be increased in accordance with the battlefield's necessities and requirements.
Iran tightened its grip on the Strait of Hormuz on Feb. 28, barring safe passage of vessels belonging to or affiliated with Israel and the United States following their joint strikes on Iranian territory.
U.S. officials, including President Donald Trump, have claimed that the waterway is open and under the U.S. forces' control, and oil is being transported through it. ■
