Deep Tide TechFlow message: On July 16, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said, as reported by Iran’s Mehr News Agency on the 15th, that the Strait of Hormuz is a pillar of Iran’s national security and that Iran’s existing arrangements for this important waterway must be maintained. In a speech to the Iranian people delivered that evening, Ghalibaf said that Iran is engaged in a complex struggle with the United States and must be ready at all times to fight the United States. He said the U.S.’s strategy toward Iran has not changed; its goals are not only to weaken Iran, but also to create division within Iran. Therefore, whether in conflict or in negotiations, Iran’s policy must be grounded in reality, national interests, and a long-term perspective. (Jin10)