Hormuz Strait to remain closed until US meets interim deal conditions, Iran's top negotiator says

The Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the United States fulfills the terms of an interim agreement signed with Iran in June, according to Iran's chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. Ghalibaf, speaking to parliament on Tuesday, detailed the conditions that must be met by Washington: the lifting of its blockade of Iranian ports, the removal of oil sanctions, the release of Iran's frozen assets, and an end to threats and military actions across all fronts.

Ghalibaf claimed the US only acquiesced to the original Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) "out of desperation," stating that the US failed to honor the obligations outlined in the MoU to compensate for a "heavy political defeat." The MoU, reached on June 17, was quickly invalidated due to a dispute over control of the strategic waterway, which facilitates a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas trade prior to the conflict.

On July 7, US President Donald Trump declared the deal "over," and a week later, Iran's foreign ministry announced its suspension. Under the MoU, the two nations had agreed to negotiate a comprehensive final deal within 60 days, with the possibility of extension by mutual agreement. A senior Iranian official reported to Reuters on Monday that Iran would now adopt a "fully offensive" stance due to the unsuccessful diplomatic attempts to secure a permanent resolution to the ongoing conflict.