Iran has said the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed to shipping until the United States meets a series of conditions linked to an interim agreement reached between the two countries in June.
Iran has said the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed to shipping until the United States meets a series of conditions linked to an interim agreement reached between the two countries in June.
The announcement comes as tensions remain high around the strategic waterway and a ship was hit by a projectile while attempting to leave the strait early Tuesday.
Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said Tehran would not reopen the vital shipping route until Washington lifts its blockade of Iranian ports, removes oil sanctions, releases frozen Iranian assets and ends threats and military operations against Iran.
The statement comes after a June 17 memorandum of understanding between Tehran and Washington fell apart within weeks. The agreement had envisaged negotiations on a broader and longer-term settlement, including Iran’s nuclear programme, but disagreements over the Strait of Hormuz and other issues brought the process to a halt.
Ship hit while leaving Strait of Hormuz
The latest incident has highlighted the risks facing commercial vessels attempting to navigate the waterway.
The UK’s Maritime Trade Operations centre said an unidentified projectile struck a ship early Tuesday as it was sailing out of the Strait of Hormuz near the coast of Oman. The projectile damaged the vessel’s engine room and resulted in a crew casualty, according to the maritime monitoring agency.
Details about the ship, its cargo and the condition of the crew member were not immediately available. The Omani Coast Guard was assisting the crew, while authorities were investigating the incident.
There was also no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.
The incident adds to concerns over the safety of one of the world’s most important energy routes. Before the war, around one-fifth of globally traded oil supplies passed through the Strait of Hormuz, making any prolonged disruption a major concern for energy markets and international shipping.
Iran sets conditions for reopening
Qalibaf said Iran would maintain its restrictions on shipping until Washington fulfils what Tehran considers its commitments under the June agreement.
“Until the United States fulfills its commitments under the agreement, including lifting the blockade, releasing frozen assets, lifting oil sanctions, ending threats and military operations on all fronts,” Qalibaf said, the Strait would not reopen.
The June memorandum had committed the two sides to negotiate a final agreement within 60 days, with the possibility of extending the timeline by mutual consent.
However, US President Donald Trump declared the agreement “over” on July 7. Iran’s foreign ministry subsequently said the deal had been suspended.
Oman tries to keep shipping route open
With direct US-Iran negotiations stalled, Tehran has been holding separate discussions with Oman over a framework for managing ships that need to pass through the strait.
Iran said Monday that talks with Oman were nearing completion and that the two sides were working towards a joint statement.
The diplomatic effort comes as the situation around the waterway remains volatile. A senior Iranian official said Tehran could adopt a “fully offensive” posture if diplomatic efforts to secure a lasting end to the conflict continue to fail.
