Iran has said the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the United States meets seven conditions set out by Tehran, as diplomatic efforts continue to resolve the dispute between the two countries.
Iranian Parliament Speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf made the statement on Sunday, October 4, according to Iranian state media, after Tehran received a response from Washington to its latest diplomatic proposal.
“The position of the Islamic Republic of Iran is completely clear and firm, and the Strait of Hormuz will not be opened until our seven conditions, based on the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, are met,” Qalibaf said, according to Reuters.
The development has added to uncertainty surrounding the future of the strategic waterway, through which a significant share of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies normally passes.
Any prolonged disruption to shipping through the strait could affect international energy markets, particularly as governments and traders continue to monitor supplies and fuel prices.
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Iran had presented a proposal at the United Nations General Assembly under which normal maritime traffic through the waterway could resume within seven days if its conditions were fulfilled.
The United States responded to the proposal last week through Qatari mediators, Reuters reported.
Qalibaf said Tehran would not accept attempts to prolong the diplomatic process or impose unilateral demands on Iran.
“The Americans, who say something different in the media, have recently put forward proposals through a mediator. But they must understand that the period of dragging out the process and dictating one-sided demands is over,” he said.
TEHRAN SAYS US PROPOSAL REMAINS FOCUSED ON NUCLEAR ISSUE
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran had communicated its position to Washington through mediators but still had additional points to convey.
Baghaei said the US proposals remained focused largely on Iran’s nuclear programme, while Tehran’s immediate priority was restoring security around the Strait of Hormuz.
“The Americans’ propositions are more or less in line with their previous positions, specifically on the nuclear issue. We told them our focus at this stage is the issue of the Strait of Hormuz and the return to security in this waterway requires clear steps from the US,” Baghaei said.
Baghaei also denied reports that Iran had offered to allow inspections of its nuclear facilities by the United Nations nuclear watchdog in exchange for sanctions relief.
According to Reuters, the disagreement between the two sides includes differences over the sequence in which measures contained in the proposed agreement would be implemented.
QATAR CONTINUES MEDIATION EFFORTS
Qatar has been acting as an intermediary between Washington and Tehran as diplomatic efforts continue to resolve the dispute and restore normal maritime traffic through the waterway.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important energy routes because of the large quantities of oil and liquefied natural gas that normally pass through it.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also said on Sunday that Tehran remained prepared to respond if Washington returned to military action.
“If they again move towards military solutions, we are more prepared than before and will take whatever action is necessary to defend ourselves,” Araghchi said.
