Iran remains defiant as it vows to fight US until demands met

What the report says

Al Jazeera reports that Iran is maintaining a hard line in its war with the United States, with senior figures saying the Strait of Hormuz will stay shut unless Washington ends the conflict, lifts the blockade, frees frozen Iranian assets and accepts a broader regional ceasefire. The comments came from Mohsen Rezaei, Iran’s new security chief, after he met China’s ambassador in Tehran and signaled continued reliance on partners such as Beijing.

The article says Iranian officials are also pointing to military resilience. Advisers to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed Iran has replaced more missiles and drones than it has used in the fighting, and argued that US missile and precision-munitions stocks are being depleted. Tehran’s military leadership was reshuffled this week, with several appointments aimed at tightening coordination across missile, drone, naval, cyber and ground forces.

Al Jazeera also describes continuing clashes at sea. It says attacks and interceptions have continued in the Strait of Hormuz, the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandeb, while mediators including Pakistan and Qatar are still seeking a diplomatic opening. The reporting places these developments in the broader context of nearly six months of war, sanctions pressure, economic strain and tighter domestic security inside Iran, where officials say they are also preparing for possible unrest.