The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) quoted Iranian government officials as saying, "Iran has made it clear to mediators that it intends to maintain control over the Strait of Hormuz." Earlier, Yadollah Javani, head of the political bureau of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), said, "The U.S. can never open the Strait of Hormuz by military means," adding, "Iran has cornered Washington by blockading the strait and responding in kind."