Iran Denies Finalizing US Deal Over Strait of Hormuz

Iran and the United States continue to exchange indirect messages, but no final agreement has been reached yet, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei announced on Friday.

Speaking to the state-run news agency IRNA, Baghaei emphasized that while discussions are ongoing, recent Western media leaks regarding the exact details of a concluded deal are premature and inaccurate. An informed diplomatic source separately told Tasnim News Agency that the draft text of a potential Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has undergone several revisions over the past few days and remains unfinalized.

Baghaei also addressed the critical issue of maritime navigation through the strategic Strait of Hormuz. He asserted that the waterway lies strictly within the territorial waters of Iran and Oman, necessitating specialized security arrangements between the two coastal states to protect national security while reassuring international shipping.

Meanwhile, Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency dismissed recent claims by US President Donald Trump as a "mixture of truth and falsehood" aimed at projecting a manufactured victory. Citing inside sources, Fars reported that the draft agreement operates under the principle of "commitment for commitment."

Crucially, the Iranian sources rejected claims that Tehran has agreed to dismantle or destroy its nuclear materials, stating no such clause exists in the active draft. Furthermore, they clarified that the draft does not oblige Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz without imposing transit fees, monitoring systems, and strict security protocols.

According to Fars, Iran's immediate red line is the unconditional release of $12 billion in frozen assets abroad before moving to subsequent negotiation phases. The draft also reportedly includes provisions for a comprehensive ceasefire in Lebanon, aligned with Hezbollah's stance, alongside built-in legal safeguards to trigger immediate retaliation if Washington breaches the pact.