Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran's chief negotiator, firmly stated that the Strait of Hormuz will be administered by Tehran, asserting that operations will comply with international law.
Iran's official news agency reported that these remarks came after Ghalibaf returned from talks aimed at ending the conflict between the US-Israel alliance and Iran, a dispute impacting the Middle East region.
Ghalibaf said the Strait of Hormuz will never revert to its pre-war state and will be governed by the Islamic Republic of Iran in accordance with international law.
He stated via a video clip posted on his personal Telegram account that discussions at the Bergestock resort in Switzerland were successful on multiple issues including the Strait of Hormuz, the situation in Lebanon, easing oil sanctions, and unfreezing assets.
Previously, Iran and the US agreed to establish communication channels to open this vital shipping route and reduce the risk of clashes following initial talks in Switzerland.
The US temporarily suspended oil sanctions on Iran after Vice President JD Vance revealed that Tehran agreed to allow United Nations nuclear inspectors to re-enter the country.
Under this agreement, Iran will receive partial relief from US sanctions, including the unfreezing of certain assets.
However, Ghalibaf noted that negotiations are only at the beginning stage, and both sides need to continue discussions.
Iranian official media reported that Ghalibaf made a stopover in Oman, a country bordering the Strait of Hormuz.
The Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil shipping route, was previously closed by Iran after the war began but reopened last week following a preliminary US-Iran agreement. Yet, last Saturday, Tehran announced the strait’s closure again in response to Israeli attacks in Lebanon.
Most recently, mediators from Qatar and Pakistan disclosed that Iran and the US agreed to set up a direct communication line to prevent misunderstandings and reduce risks of unforeseen incidents, while ensuring the security of commercial ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
Maritime tracking companies reported that traffic in the Strait of Hormuz continued on Monday with increased activity after progress in US-Iran negotiations to end the conflict.
. Source:channelnewsasia
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