Iran says Strait of Hormuz will not reopen until US continues naval blockade
Tehran, Aug 10
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said on Monday that the Strait of Hormuz will not reopen until the US continues its naval blockade against Iran, local media reported.
Addressing a weekly press briefing in Tehran, Baqaei said that the Strait of Hormuz was closed due to the US and Israeli military aggression against Iran. He emphasised that the reopening of the waterway relies on the conditions enforced on Iran and the Strait of Hormuz by the US and Israeli authorities, Iran's semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported.
"As long as the US naval blockade continues, the necessary conditions for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz do not exist," said Baqaei. He stressed that the US needs to stop and make changes in its "destructive actions" so that the two sides could discuss the next steps.
The Strait of Hormuz links Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. It is one of the world's most important energy corridors, carrying oil and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) exports from major Gulf producers to international markets.
Baqaei mentioned that the talks between Iran and Oman over a shipping route is a bilateral matter which involves two nations.
On Sunday, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Aragchi stated that there are currently no ongoing negotiations with the United States.
Speaking to reporters at the Centre for Political and International Studies of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he said, "We currently have no negotiations with the United States. Intermediaries are still making efforts to find ways to resume negotiations. From our perspective, there can be no resumption of talks until the United States ends its violations of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and makes amends for the breaches it has committed," Tasnim News Agency reported.
He stated that there is no possibility of resuming negotiations until the US ends the violations of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) or it makes amends for what it has violated. He also said that they are in the final stage of negotiations with Oman about determining a new sea route in the Strait of Hormuz.
The Iranian Foreign Minister stressed that reaching a pact with Oman on a new maritime route does not imply that the Strait of Hormuz will be reopened.
"Of course, this does not mean the opening of the Strait of Hormuz. This agreement may be reached, but the opening of the Strait of Hormuz is subject to a series of conditions," he said.
— IANS
Reader Comments
The US keeps saying they want peace but their actions in the Middle East tell a different story. Blockading a country and then wondering why they won't cooperate? It's like choking someone and asking them to breathe normally. India should tread carefully here - we need good relations with both sides.
While I understand Iran's frustration, closing the Strait of Hormuz is like playing with fire. This waterway isn't just for oil - it carries food, medical supplies, everything! Innocent civilians in other Gulf countries will suffer too. India's diplomatic corps needs to push for de-escalation at every international forum.
As someone with family working in Dubai, this makes me very anxious. The whole region is on tenterhooks. America needs to understand that this "maximum pressure" policy has failed every single time. But Iran also needs to consider that punishing everyone isn't the way to get justice from the US.
India is stuck between a rock and a hard place. On one hand, we have strategic partnership with the US; on the other, we've historically had good ties with Iran. This is where our diplomats earn their salary. Also, isn't it time we seriously diversify our energy imports? Can't be dependent on one chokepoint forever.
This is exactly the kind of situation where India should be playing mediator. We have credibility with both Iran and the US. The new sea route with Oman could be a good starting point for de-escalation. Let's hope our External Affairs Ministry is actively working behind the scenes. 🤞