Mohamad Baqer Qalibaf, President of the Iranian Parliament and chief negotiator, stated on Tuesday that Iran will respond militarily if the United States intensifies its maritime blockade of its ships and ports. ^[1] Iran responded with attacks against United States bases in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates, without apparently causing damage, in the first exchange of military hostilities in a month. ^[2] Mohamad Baqer Qalibaf stated that the Islamic Republic will not allow the transit of tankers through the southern route near the coast of Oman, as he considers its use to contradict the Memorandum of Understanding signed with the United States on June 17. ^[3] The United States attacked the Larak island last week, an operation in which two people died, from where Tehran was preparing to launch rockets loaded with naval mines into the Strait of Hormuz. ^[4] Mohamad Baqer Qalibaf stated that a naval blockade is considered a military action under international law. ^[5] The United States attacked the Larak island last week, an action Washington announced had cleared mines from the Strait of Hormuz, resulting in two deaths. ^[6]