Iran has said the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until seven conditions set out in an interim agreement with the United States are fulfilled, according to state media.
Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, Iran’s parliament speaker and top negotiator, said Tehran’s position was “clear and firm” and that the waterway would not reopen until the conditions, based on the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, had been met.
Context: Strait of Hormuz Intelligence File · Strait of Hormuz
Iran had presented a proposal during the UN General Assembly under which normal maritime passage through the strait could be restored within seven days if the conditions were satisfied. The United States responded to the proposal last week through Qatari intermediaries, according to the report.
Operational context
The Strait of Hormuz is a major global energy shipping route. Before the conflict that began at the end of February, following US and Israeli attacks on Iran, it carried around one fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows.
Tehran has indicated that the immediate focus of discussions is the waterway and the restoration of security there, rather than renewed negotiations on its nuclear programme. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Iran had communicated its broad position through mediators following the US response, while further points still needed to be conveyed to Washington.
Baghaei said the US proposals broadly reflected earlier positions, particularly regarding the nuclear issue. He said Iran had made clear that restoring security in the Strait of Hormuz would require specific action by Washington.
He also rejected reports that Iran had offered inspections of its nuclear facilities by the UN nuclear watchdog in return for US sanctions relief. According to Baghaei, Tehran has not entered into nuclear discussions with Washington.
What it means for maritime operators
An official briefed on the talks said last week that a document under circulation envisaged a seven-day trust-building process aimed at bringing both sides back to an enhanced version of the June memorandum. That framework reportedly included practical steps related to Iran’s nuclear programme, with differences centred on the sequencing of measures rather than the overall elements of the plan.
Qatar has continued to relay messages between Tehran and Washington as efforts continue to end the conflict and restore passage through the strait. The June memorandum led to a brief ceasefire and covered both the waterway and Iran’s nuclear programme.
Separately, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Iran hoped the United States would pursue diplomacy, but warned that Tehran was prepared to respond should Washington return to military action. Iran’s army spokesperson Mohammad Akraminia also said the country would increase the range of its missiles.
No timetable for reopening the Strait of Hormuz was announced beyond Iran’s statement that maritime traffic could resume within seven days if its conditions are met.