Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammad Baker Kalibaf, announced on Tuesday that the Strait of Hormuz will be administered by Tehran. This was reported by Iranian state media after negotiations aimed at ending the war between the US, Israel and Iran. This was reported by the AFP agency, writes TASR.
- Mohammad Báker Kálibáf announced that the Strait of Hormuz will be managed exclusively by Iran.
- Iran and the United States have agreed on communication channels for a safe Hormuz.
- The United States has granted Iran a temporary exemption from sanctions on oil exports.
Kalibaf: The Strait of Hormuz will never return to its pre-war state
Iran and the United States agreed on Monday to establish communication channels to keep the strategically important sea route open and help end the fighting in Lebanon, according to mediators. It was the first round of negotiations in Switzerland aimed at ending the conflict that engulfed the Middle East.
“The Strait of Hormuz will never return to its pre-war status and will be administered by the Islamic Republic of Iran in accordance with international law,” Iran’s state news agency IRNA quoted Kalibaf as saying.
In a video published on his account on the Telegram platform, Kálíbáf said that the negotiations in the luxurious Swiss spa town of Bürgenstock brought “good results”.
Exemption from sanctions on oil exports
“In my opinion, this trip has produced good results, especially regarding the discussion on the Straits, Lebanon, exemptions from sanctions on oil exports and the release of frozen funds,” he said.
The United States on Monday granted a temporary exemption from sanctions on Iranian oil exports. This came after US Vice President JD Vance announced that Tehran would allow UN inspectors to return to Iran. The agreement should also include some form of sanctions relief and the release of frozen Iranian assets.
“Of course, we believe that we are still only at the beginning of this process and we must continue our efforts,” Kálibáf stated.
Strategic Hormuz Strait
Iranian media reported that Qalıbaf also stopped in Oman, which shares the Strait of Hormuz with Iran, after the negotiations.
Iran closed this strategic waterway after the outbreak of war with the US and Israel, but reopened it last week after an agreement with Washington. On Saturday, however, Tehran announced its re-closure in response to Israeli attacks in Lebanon. Subsequently, Iran and the US agreed to establish a communication line in order to prevent incidents and misunderstandings and ensure the safe passage of merchant ships through the Strait of Hormuz.
According to traffic monitoring companies, shipping in the strait continued to be smooth on Monday, more intense than before the US-Iran deal to start negotiations to end the war.
