Iran has said the Strait of Hormuz will not be reopened until the United States meets seven conditions put forward by Tehran.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf made the remarks on Sunday, October 4.
Speaking to Iran’s Nournews, Ghalibaf said Tehran had presented seven conditions under an interim agreement reached with Washington in June. He said reopening the Strait of Hormuz would not be considered until those conditions were fulfilled.
Ghalibaf said that although the United States had made different statements publicly, Washington had recently conveyed some proposals through a mediator. However, he said Iran would no longer allow the process to be prolonged or accept unilateral demands.
He said Iran’s position on reopening the Strait of Hormuz was clear and firm. A decision on reopening the waterway would be made only after the seven conditions outlined under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding were met.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said the Strait of Hormuz could be reopened within seven days if Washington accepts Tehran’s proposal.
Speaking to ambassadors and diplomats from various countries in Tehran on Sunday, Araqchi said Iran had clearly communicated its conditions for reopening the strait. He said some of those conditions were linked to commitments that the United States would have to accept.
Araqchi said Tehran hoped Washington would choose diplomacy. However, he warned that Iran was prepared to respond if the United States again opted for military action.
He said that if Washington moved toward a military solution again, Iran would be better prepared than before and would take whatever measures it considered necessary to defend itself.
Source: Reuters
