Iran Declares Strait of Hormuz Will Be Under Tehran's Administration After Talks

Iran's chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, stated on Tuesday that the Strait of Hormuz will be administered by Tehran, according to state media. The remarks follow talks aimed at ending the conflict between Iran and the United States, which mediators said included an agreement on communication lines to keep the vital shipping route open.

Ghalibaf, speaking on his return from negotiations in Switzerland, was quoted by IRNA as saying, "The Strait of Hormuz will never return to its pre-war conditions and will be administered by the Islamic Republic of Iran, in accordance with international law." In a video posted to his Telegram account, he described the talks at the Burgenstock resort as producing "good achievements." He cited progress on discussions regarding the Strait, Lebanon, an oil waiver, and the release of frozen funds.

The United States temporarily suspended sanctions on Iranian oil on Monday, following an agreement that Tehran would allow UN nuclear inspectors to return to the country. As part of the deal, Iran is expected to receive sanctions relief and the unfreezing of assets. Ghalibaf noted, "Of course, we believe we are still at the beginning of this work and must continue our efforts."

Iranian state media reported that Ghalibaf also made a stop in Oman, which shares the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway, which Iran closed at the start of the war, reopened last week after a previous agreement between Washington and Tehran. However, Iran announced on Saturday it had closed the strait again in response to Israeli attacks in Lebanon. Subsequently, Tehran and Washington agreed to establish a communication line "to avoid incidents and miscommunication with the aim of safe passage for commercial vessels," as stated by Qatari and Pakistani mediators.

Maritime traffic in the strait continued to flow on Monday at a faster pace than before the U.S.-Iranian agreement on talks, according to tracking firms.