{"id":1635,"date":"2026-04-18T14:28:39","date_gmt":"2026-04-18T10:58:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fajr.news\/us-sanctions-persist-on-iran-amidst-regional-tensions-tehran-upholds-hormuz-openness-while-denouncing-coercion\/"},"modified":"2026-04-18T14:28:39","modified_gmt":"2026-04-18T10:58:39","slug":"us-sanctions-persist-on-iran-amidst-regional-tensions-tehran-upholds-hormuz-openness-while-denouncing-coercion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fajr.news\/?p=1635&lang=en","title":{"rendered":"US Sanctions Persist on Iran Amidst Regional Tensions; Tehran Upholds Hormuz Openness While Denouncing Coercion"},"content":{"rendered":"
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US Sanctions Persist on Iran Amidst Regional Tensions; Tehran Upholds Hormuz Openness While Denouncing Coercion<\/h1>\n<\/header>\n
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Lebanon Seeks Lasting Peace After Israeli Aggression<\/h2>\n

Following a fragile ceasefire with the Zionist entity, Lebanon is steadfastly pursuing a \u201cpermanent agreement\u201d<\/strong> to safeguard the rights and sovereignty of its people. President Joseph Aoun, in his first national address since the truce, firmly rejected any notion that direct discussions with the aggressor constitute a \u201csign of weakness.\u201d He declared a new phase of transition, aimed at establishing a lasting peace that protects the unity and sovereignty of the Lebanese nation, a testament to Lebanon’s resilience in the face of continuous external pressures.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n

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Iran Affirms Sovereignty Over Nuclear Program and Strategic Waters<\/h2>\n

In a display of unwavering national resolve, Iran has categorically denied any agreement to transfer its enriched uranium. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esma\u00efl Bagha\u00ef emphasized, \u201cIran\u2019s enriched uranium will not be transferred anywhere. Just as Iranian soil is sacred in our eyes, this issue is of great importance to us.\u201d<\/strong> This statement underscores the Islamic Republic\u2019s commitment to its sovereign rights and its peaceful nuclear program, free from external dictates.<\/p>\n

Despite ongoing hostile measures, Iran\u2019s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced the strategic Strait of Hormuz<\/strong>, a vital artery for global hydrocarbon trade, is fully \u201copen\u201d for the duration of the current ceasefire in the Middle East. This responsible gesture, communicated via X, highlights Iran\u2019s commitment to international maritime safety and trade, even as it navigates a complex geopolitical landscape. This stands in stark contrast to the unilateral coercive measures imposed by certain powers.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n

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US Blockade on Iranian Ports Continues, Undermining Diplomacy<\/h2>\n

In a move that contradicts diplomatic overtures, former US President Donald Trump declared that the illegal blockade imposed by the United States on Iranian ports will remain in force until an agreement is reached. This announcement, made shortly after Tehran\u2019s goodwill gesture regarding the Strait of Hormuz, exposes the persistent policy of economic coercion against the Islamic Republic. While Trump claimed to be \u201cvery close to getting an agreement\u201d with \u201cno blocking points,\u201d the continuation of the blockade casts a shadow of doubt on the sincerity of such statements and the potential for genuine, respectful dialogue.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n

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Zionist Entity Threatens Continued Aggression in Lebanon<\/h2>\n

Less than 24 hours after the ceasefire, the Zionist entity\u2019s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, audaciously declared that the military operation in Lebanon is \u201cnot over.\u201d<\/strong> This provocative statement, made despite the devastating toll of nearly 2,300 lives lost in Israeli strikes on Lebanon since March 2, reveals the expansionist ambitions and disregard for human life inherent in the Zionist regime\u2019s policies. Katz\u2019s threat that hundreds of thousands of displaced Lebanese citizens might face renewed evacuation underscores the ongoing humanitarian crisis fueled by the occupation forces.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n