Schmid: labor market broadly in balance; little evidence that the labor market or wages are fueling inf.

Iran Foreign Ministry spokesman BAGHAEI said US officials have invented deceptive arguments to avoid responsibility for the humanitarian, economic and geopolitical consequences of what he called their illegal aggression against Iran. He accused the US of twice launching unprovoked military attacks during diplomatic talks within nine months, assassinating Iran’s supreme leader and senior officials, causing civilian casualties including women and children and destroying critical infrastructure. BAGHAEI said the US is now politically and militarily cornered and is denying responsibility while proclaiming victory to mask its failure to achieve stated objectives.

Iran’s parliament National Security and Foreign Policy Committee spokesman Kashkavi told state media the committee completed a technical review and has reached agreement with two littoral states on a transit corridor through the Strait of Hormuz. The corridor will be implemented initially on a temporary basis before being made permanent and is awaiting the parliament presidium to place it on the plenary agenda for a vote. Kashkavi added Iran has not initiated aggression, is in a defensive posture, and, under international law, considers itself in a state of war in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman.