WANA (Aug 30) – Iran has finalized necessary preparations through an understanding with Oman regarding the Strait of Hormuz, but will not be the party to take the first step in executing commitments to reopen the waterway until the United States resumes its obligations, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs stated.

 

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs, Kazem Gharibabadi, explained that Iran had created the necessary readiness through an understanding with Oman, but stressed that Tehran would not take the lead in implementing commitments related to opening the Strait of Hormuz. Instead, he placed the onus on the United States, stating that Washington had suspended its commitments and withdrawn from its terms.

 

He added that Washington must return to these obligations and noted that Iran had fully clarified the necessary actions that the U.S. needed to take.

 

Responding to questions regarding the latest consultations and news surrounding mediation efforts by countries such as Pakistan, Oman, and Qatar, Gharibabadi explained that the Islamic Republic of Iran had reached an understanding with Oman concerning transit arrangements through the Strait of Hormuz. However, he emphasized that the agreement would not automatically enter the implementation phase.

 

Gharibabadi noted that its realization was contingent upon the execution of commitments borne by the opposing side—specifically, the United States. He explicitly declared that whenever the conditions and obligations pertaining to the U.S. were implemented, Iran would also be prepared to take its actions regarding the Strait of Hormuz.

 

He warned that if Washington took no action, Iran was in no rush to open the Strait of Hormuz and would continue its measures to defend the country and counter its enemies, emphasizing that Iran had always been prepared for any scenario.

 

U.S. Betrayed Diplomacy

Addressing recent U.S. sanctions, the Deputy Foreign Minister noted that the latest move by adversarial powers—specifically the U.S. issuing a new sanctions package—was not a novel issue, and that Iran remained fully prepared for it.

 

He stated that if the U.S. operated under the assumption that it wished to return to the diplomatic table, it had to understand that Iran did not breach the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding. Instead, he argued that it was the U.S. that had betrayed diplomacy and the negotiation table for the third time in the past 16 months.

 

He added that Iran should not pay the cost for this behavior. He reiterated that for its part, Tehran had made the necessary arrangements regarding the Strait of Hormuz with the Omani government, and that it was now the responsibility and obligation of the opposing side to fulfill the required prerequisites so that Iran could take reciprocal action.

 

Complete Closure of the Strait of Hormuz

Gharibabadi refuted claims regarding the free passage of certain vessels through the region, asserting that the Strait of Hormuz remained completely closed. He emphasized that if any ship passed through the route, it was definitively done with the coordination and permission of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

 

He stated that the Iranian Armed Forces maintained complete surveillance over any movement in the Strait of Hormuz and carried out their mission in the best possible manner. Therefore, he affirmed that the claims raised were by no means confirmed by Tehran, and that no ship had the ability to pass through the Strait of Hormuz without Iran’s coordination.

 

Diplomatic Engagement with Qatar and Pakistan

Commenting on the recent meeting between the Prime Minister of Qatar and Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, as well as speculation over whether Qatar delivered a message from Washington, Gharibabadi described such engagements as standard practice.

 

He explained that those meetings and interactions were routine and common, noting that Qatar and Pakistan had played roles as mediators in the talks. He stated that Iranian officials had conversed with them within the framework of current issues and conveyed Tehran’s positions. He added that the efforts of Qatar and Pakistan were aimed at assessing the feasibility of returning to commitments under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding.

 

Concluding his remarks, Gharibabadi reiterated Iran’s position on the next steps, stating that Iranian officials had made it clear to the mediators that Iran had created the necessary readiness through an understanding with Oman.

 

However, he maintained that Iran would not take the lead in implementing commitments related to opening the Strait of Hormuz, reiterating that the U.S. had suspended its commitments and exited its provisions. He concluded that Washington must return to these commitments, as Iran had made the actions required of the U.S. completely clear.