Iran official calls US blockade piracy

Former Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Larijani has denounced the ongoing US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz as an act of piracy. He declared that Iranians "don't let pirates off" and asserted that control of the strategic strait remains firmly in Iranian hands. Larijani also criticized the prospect of nuclear talks with the United States, calling them "a big mistake." His comments represent a hardline political stance amid heightened tensions and ongoing diplomatic maneuvering over the critical maritime chokepoint.