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Iran Says Strait of Hormuz Will Stay Closed Until US Meets Conditions
Confirmed
In Short: Iran's parliament speaker, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, said on Sunday that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until seven conditions set out in a June interim agreement with the US are met, Nournews reported.
Speaking to foreign ambassadors and diplomats in Tehran, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi separately stated that Iran's proposal to resolve its dispute with Washington could lead to the Strait of Hormuz reopening within seven days if accepted.
Qalibaf emphasized that Iran's position is firm and the strait will not be opened until the conditions outlined in the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding are fulfilled.
The conditions include easing sanctions, lifting the naval blockade, returning frozen funds, exempting Iranian crude exports from sanctions, and halting fighting on all fronts.
Araghchi warned that if the US moves toward military solutions, Iran is more prepared than before and will take necessary actions to defend itself.
The US official told the BBC that Washington is in a strong position with control of the Strait of Hormuz and is not in a rush to reopen it.
Meanwhile, a tanker was hit by an unknown projectile in the Hormuz strait, causing damage to its engine room, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported on Sunday.
A senior Iranian official told Reuters that Tehran could reopen the strait within seven days if the US eased military pressure and lifted its blockade of Iranian ports.
However, Iran's semiofficial Fars news agency denied the reported seven-day offer, and Tehran disputes suggestions that it has abandoned its earlier conditions.
Mehran Haghirian, executive director of research and programs at the Bourse & Bazaar Foundation, noted that the blockade has significantly impacted Iranian trade and imports.
Victoria Coates, a former deputy national security adviser to President Donald Trump, described the blockade as 'by far Trump’s most devastating tool,' restricting access to critical imports.
What this adds
The conditions Iran set in talks with the US were not disclosed, but Qalibaf's renewed emphasis suggests the US proposal may have fallen short of Iran's demands.
The MOU signed by Iran and the US on June 18 aimed to establish a ceasefire and facilitate the partial reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, but the deal later collapsed due to differences over control of the strait.
Background
Three Liberia-flagged oil tankers were hit by unknown projectiles while passing through the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, according to shipping intelligence service Marisks.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran has proposed a plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days if certain conditions are met.
What's confirmed
- DUBAI: The Strait of Hormuz will not reopen until seven Iranian conditions set out in a June interim agreement with the US are met, Nournews reported Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf as saying on Sunday, a few days after Tehran received Washington’s reply to its diplomatic proposal.
- Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said separately on Sunday that a plan put forward by Tehran to resolve its dispute with Washington could lead to the Strait of Hormuz reopening within seven days if accepted.
- Speaking to foreign ambassadors and diplomats in Tehran, Araghchi said Iran had clearly explained its conditions for reopening the strait and that they were linked to commitments the United States would have to accept.
- “If they again move toward military solutions, we are more prepared than before and will take whatever action is necessary to defend ourselves,” Araghchi said.
- Tehran Holds to Seven Terms Set Out in Interim Accord Demands Appear to Include a Full Halt to Fighting Iran has reaffirmed that it will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz unless the conditions it set in talks with the United States are met.
- In a separate statement the same day, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran could reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days if the conditions it presented to the US are accepted.
What's still developing
- The contents were not disclosed, but Ghalibaf's renewed emphasis on the existing conditions suggests the U.S. proposal may have fallen short of Iran's demands.
- Iran maintains that Washington must first ease sanctions and lift the blockade, while the United States is said to be demanding that Iran open the Strait of Hormuz first.
- The deal later collapsed and talks stalled as differences resurfaced over control of the Strait of Hormuz.
- Iran also blocked the Strait of Hormuz following the escalation.
- “If there is seriousness on the US side to reach a deal and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, everything is now prepared,” he said.
- The MOU signed by Iran and the US on June 18 was intended to establish a ceasefire and facilitate the partial reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
Sources
- Arabnewslink
- Business Standardlink
- Seoul Economic Dailylink
- The Business Timeslink
- The Financial Expresslink
- bloomingbitlink
- Englishlink
- Arabnewslink
- Nigeriainfolink
- CBS Newslink
- Economylink
- BBClink
- Fxstreetlink
- RTE.ielink
- NBC Newslink
- WarpBeat — background on Oil Tankers Hit by Projectiles in Hormuz Strait link
- CBS News — video link