WANA (Jun 23) – Iran’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Ali Bahreini, stated to reporters today that the Strait of Hormuz remains open to commercial ships. He characterized the previous day’s technical talks in Switzerland as positive and announced that two separate working groups will be established to review the issues of sanctions and Iran’s nuclear program.

 

Confirming progress in the recent negotiations between Iran and the United States in Switzerland, Bahreini emphasized that Lebanon is unequivocally integrated into the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). He stated that the agreement explicitly dictates that no new attacks are to be launched against Lebanon.

 

The envoy stressed that any assault on Lebanon, including its southern region and Beirut, constitutes a red line for Tehran, warning that Iran will respond if Israel violates the memorandum in any manner.

 

Working Groups on Sanctions and Nuclear Program

According to Bahreini, the technical discussions held yesterday were highly constructive. He noted that in the coming days, two specialized working groups will be formed to focus on the lifting of sanctions and Iran’s nuclear activities.

 

Contrary to claims made by U.S. officials, the Iranian ambassador stated that absolutely no discussions had taken place regarding granting entry to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors to Iran. He clarified that the review of Iran’s nuclear activities has been deferred to the subsequent phase of negotiations.

 

Bahreini underscored that before any talks regarding the nuclear file and the role of the IAEA can commence, five specific sections of the memorandum must first be fully implemented.

 

Shipping Dynamics in the Strait of Hormuz

The ambassador stated that the Strait of Hormuz will remain open without the collection of any tolls or fees throughout the designated 60-day negotiation period. Following this timeframe, the operational status of the strategic waterway will depend directly on the progress of the broader negotiations.

 

The senior diplomat noted that the primary talks concerning the Strait of Hormuz will be conducted between Iran and Oman, which will then be followed by parallel negotiations involving the other signatories to the memorandum.

 

Unconditional Control of Assets and Impact of U.S. Rhetoric

Regarding the release of Iran’s frozen assets, Bahreini asserted that Iran is the sole authority that will decide how its funds are utilized. He explicitly rejected any assertions by Washington suggesting that another nation should have a role in or influence over these decisions and processes.

 

Addressing the threatening messages posted by Donald Trump on the day of the Swiss negotiations, the ambassador stated that such remarks placed the talks in very serious jeopardy. He concluded by affirming that Iran will continue to negotiate as long as the United States remains ready and demonstrates a constructive approach.