Gharibabadi: Reopening Hormuz Strait conditional on full implementation of Iran’s conditions / No military vessel allowed to pass

Pars Today – Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi stressed that the Strait of Hormuz remains under the full control and surveillance of Iran’s armed forces, saying that the waterway can only be reopened once the United States fully fulfills its violated commitments. Until those conditions are met, the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed.

According to Pars Today, citing IRIB, Gharibabadi said on Tuesday night during an interview on Iranian television that the agreement between Iran and Oman on a joint temporary maritime corridor does not constitute the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and is merely a technical framework for managing the waterway in the future, should Iran’s conditions be met.

He said the southern route of the Strait of Hormuz, which lies in Omani internal waters and which the United States had sought to open, also remains closed. He added that Iran’s armed forces will not allow any vessel to pass through this route, which will soon be formally closed.

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister stressed that under the new understanding with Oman, entry into the Persian Gulf will take place entirely through Iranian territorial waters, while part of the outbound route will also pass through Iranian waters. He added that no military vessel will be allowed to transit the Strait of Hormuz, and that the route is intended exclusively for commercial vessels.

Referring to the U.S. commitments that were violated under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, Gharibabadi said the United States must fulfill all of its obligations, including ending the war on all fronts, fully lifting the economic blockade, unfreezing blocked Iranian funds, ending threats against Iran, and removing sanctions.

He stressed that the Strait of Hormuz belongs to Iran and Oman, and that any fees and arrangements concerning the waterway must be determined through full coordination between the two countries, while taking Iran’s sovereign rights into account.

Gharibabadi added that the Islamic Republic of Iran has always emphasized that the use of the waterway must not pose a threat to Iran’s national security and that vessels must transit in full compliance with the regulations announced by Iran.