ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf on Sunday hailed Iran-aligned groups in the region for their “resistance” and contribution to the war against the US and Israel. 

“Hezbollah of Lebanon, which was constantly threatened with disarmament, is today an important and effective part of the resistance and has trapped the cursed regime. The Iraqi resistance fights bravely and has surprised the enemy. Ansar Allah [Houthis] of Yemen, with its entry, has given new breath to the resistance front and is ready to create amazing surprises,” he said.

Since the US-Israel war with Iran started in late February, Iran and its proxies have carried out daily attacks across the region, mainly targeting US interests.

In the statement, Ghalibaf claimed that the war is now in its most sensitive stage as the US’s focus has shifted from its “plan to collapse the Islamic Republic” to now trying to open the Strait of Hormuz, which was open before the war began.

Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway responsible for roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil, as a means to apply pressure on the global market, sharply driving up oil prices.

There are also worries that the Houthis in Yemen will support Iran by closing the Bab al-Mandab Strait, which would force all shipments from the Middle East to Europe to reroute all the way around Africa.

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticized European countries and NATO for not getting involved in opening the Strait of Hormuz, calling them “cowards.”

“Trump is incapable of cooperating with European countries. The energy market has gotten out of control, and food inflation is near,” Ghalibaf said.

On Monday, Trump referred to a 15-point agreement with Iran, saying he was in contact with a top Iranian leader, while denying recognition of newly appointed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei’s position and role.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Thursday confirmed that indirect talks between Tehran and Washington, mediated by Islamabad, are taking place, despite Iran claiming that it rejected the talks.

Ghalibaf said the US failed to achieve the 15-points in the plan, which reportedly includes Iran abandoning its nuclear program, through force and now seeks it through diplomacy.

“These days, different statements about negotiation are heard from enemy officials. America expresses its wishes and announces what it failed to achieve in war as a 15-item list and seeks it through diplomacy,” he asserted.

Despite the talks, the tit-for-tat attacks between the US, Israel, and Iran continue across the region. According to the Washington Post on Saturday, the Pentagon is also preparing for a possible weeks or months-long ground operation, citing unnamed sources.

“The enemy openly sends messages of negotiation and dialogue while secretly plotting a ground attack. Unaware that our men are waiting for the American soldiers' ground entry to set fire to them and punish their regional partners forever,” Ghalibaf warned.