American officials are using their branded media outlets to spread “crude and repetitive lies” about the Islamic Republic’s negotiating positions, even as they intensify their campaign of pressure and threats against Tehran, a senior Iranian intelligence source told Press TV on Saturday.
The source specifically singled out the news website Axios, which he described as closely tied to US and Israeli intelligence agencies, noting that the American side is using it to amplify false narratives about Iran and the ongoing developments.
Among the fabrications are claims that Iran has requested new negotiations, as well as baseless reports regarding the presence of so-called “rogue forces” in the Persian Gulf.
The highly placed source dismissed these reports as unfounded additions to what he characterized as a growing list of falsehoods propagated by the administration of US President Donald Trump after failure in the recent war against the Islamic Republic.
Asserting Iran’s resolve, the source reaffirmed that the country is committed to moving forward with its plans for administering the Strait of Hormuz, in accordance with Clause 5 of the recently signed memorandum of understanding (MoU).
“Iran is determined, in accordance with Clause 5 of the memorandum of understanding, to move forward with the arrangements related to the administration of the Strait of Hormuz,” he stated.
“Under no circumstances will it be intimidated by the other side’s uproar and propaganda.”
The remarks come after several American media outlets, citing Axios, suggested that a new round of Iran-US negotiations could take place as early as next week.
Meanwhile, Iran continues to engage with regional partners to stabilize the Strait of Hormuz, which has drawn heightened international attention following the US-Israeli war of aggression against Iran in late February.
On Saturday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Muscat for meetings with Omani officials, including his Omani counterpart. The talks focus on bilateral relations and regional developments, with the primary objective of discussing measures to ensure the safe passage of vessels through the strategic waterway and to end US interventions.
Tensions remain high, with the US military carrying out fresh acts of military aggression multiple times this week, targeting civilian and military installations in southern Iran in blatant breach of the MoU.
In the aftermath of the latest act of aggression, a security source told Press TV that Tehran has formally adopted a markedly different strategic doctrine, one that directly links the security of the Strait of Hormuz to any future attack on Iranian territory or Iranian interests.
According to the source, Iran’s updated strategy dictates that in the event of any fresh attack on Iranian soil or interests, the Islamic Republic will respond with overwhelming force.
Elaborating on Iran’s new retaliatory framework, he said following any strike against Iran, two immediate actions will be taken: first, the Strait of Hormuz will be completely closed to all maritime traffic; and second, Iran will strike enemy targets at a ratio of at least two to one, meaning that for every Iranian target hit, at least two enemy targets will be struck in return.
