If US blocks Hormuz routes, Iran will not surrender, will continue to respond, Pezeshkian tells India Today

If US blocks Hormuz routes, Iran will not surrender, will continue to respond, Pezeshkian tells India TodayThe war in Middle East has turned the Strait of Hormuz into a high-stakes pressure point, after Iran shut the strategic waterway following US-Israeli strikes and Washington imposed its own blockade. Iran has now hinged the possibility of reopening the waterway on Washington. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran is willing to work towards an internationally recognised maritime framework if the US ends its blockade and other activities against Iran.Speaking in an exclusive interview with India Today Group Foreign Affairs Editor Geeta Mohan during his visit to New Delhi for the BRICS Summit, Pezeshkian said Iran was negotiating with Oman over a specific maritime framework for the strategic waterway.Asked about the status of the waterway, Pezeshkian defended Iran's actions, saying Tehran was responding to attacks and pressure from the United States and its allies."You see, neither Hezbollah, nor us, I don't think initiated that. All of these groups are defending themselves," Pezeshkian said, arguing that Iran had been forced to respond to attacks against it. He questioned why the United States was blocking regional routes while simultaneously bringing weapons into the region. "On what basis are the Americans attacking our region, and blocking our routes, and we should do nothing?" he asked."If we are alive, we have to respond. We will not respond when we are dead. So we are alive, and we will respond," Pezeshkian said. This is a developing story. It will be updated.- EndsPublished On: Sep 12, 2026 20:36 IST