The Iranian vice president called the US position "capricious" and reiterated the crucial importance of control over the Strait of Hormuz.

According to Al Jazeera, Iran's First Vice President Mohammad Reza Arif stated that the Iranian negotiating team is "bravely defending" national interests. Arif said, "The other side's position in the negotiations is capricious; sometimes they plead under pressure, and sometimes they adopt a stubborn stance." Arif also reiterated that Iran's control of the Strait of Hormuz is crucial. "If we control the Strait of Hormuz, there is no need to wait for the sanctions to be lifted; the sanctions will effectively become ineffective," he said. (Jin Shi)