Iran Reaffirms Strait of Hormuz Won’t Reopen Until US Meets Seven Conditions

Iran has reaffirmed that it will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz unless the conditions it presented to the United States are accepted.

Reuters reported on October 4 that Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed until Iran’s seven conditions under the Islamabad memorandum of understanding are met. In July, US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed the MOU, brokered by Pakistan, to end the war.

Ghalibaf said the US had recently delivered a proposal through a mediator. He added that Washington must understand that the era of dragging out negotiations and imposing one-sided demands is over. Iran’s position, he said, is completely clear and firm.

In a separate statement the same day, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran could reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days if the conditions it presented to the US are accepted. Iran has recently proposed lifting the maritime blockade, the immediate return of frozen funds, exemptions from sanctions on Iranian oil exports, and a halt to fighting on all fronts, according to the report.

Araghchi added that if the US again seeks a military solution, Iran will take all necessary steps to defend itself.