Araghchi: We Will Not Fully Open Hormuz Before Understanding with Washington and Will Not Surrender to Sanctions

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed that Tehran will not fully open the Strait of Hormuz to navigation unless an understanding is reached with Washington.

Araghchi said in an interview with "Al-Iraqiya News Channel" that Washington's commitment to the obligations of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding is a condition for moving to negotiations on other files, adding that three rounds of negotiations with Washington ended with wars launched against Iran and proved that its commitments cannot be trusted.

He pointed out that the seven-day initiative aims to keep the diplomatic door open provided there is adherence to previous understandings, noting that it is Washington that obstructs the diplomatic path and closes the doors of negotiation, not Tehran.

Araghchi considered that Washington's implementation of its previous commitments allows for opening the Strait of Hormuz and starting additional negotiation rounds leading to a final agreement. He continued that they will not fully open the Strait of Hormuz to navigation unless they reach an understanding with Washington, and that the continued absence of an agreement means restrictions on ship movement in the Strait of Hormuz remain.

Araghchi said that negotiations with the American side are continuing through intermediary countries including Qatar and Pakistan, and that they presented an initiative extending for seven days which includes opening the Strait of Hormuz on the sixth day if the American side accepts and adheres to the Iranian conditions.

He added that the American side informed them of their agreement to the proposed conditions, but then they raised conditions, clarifying that details related to these conditions cannot be disclosed at present.

He explained that Iran's primary demand is for the United States to adhere to all commitments contained in the previously signed Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, confirming that after implementing those commitments, they can move to negotiations addressing other files leading to the final negotiation stage where both parties can raise all issues of interest and reach a comprehensive agreement on them.

He affirmed that the doors of diplomacy are open and the negotiating table is available, and the world must realize that it is the American side that obstructs the diplomatic path and closes its doors, not Iran.

Regarding recent developments in the Strait of Hormuz, Araghchi confirmed that Iran's position on the strait is clear and firm, consisting of not opening it to full navigation traffic unless an understanding is reached with the American side, and that any ship attempting to cross this waterway will face significant security problems.

He affirmed that America has not been able to achieve its goals from the war against Iran despite more than eight or nine months since its outbreak, considering that the failure to achieve those goals represents a strategic defeat for Washington and a strategic success for Tehran, stressing that Iran will not surrender under the weight of economic sanctions or military threats.

With regard to the legal status of the Strait of Hormuz, Araghchi said that the strait falls within the territorial waters of Iran and the Sultanate of Oman, and that Tehran and Muscat recently reached an agreement regarding the determination of special routes for ships entering and exiting via the strait. A map of these routes was prepared and their geographical coordinates were defined, and these routes will be the approved ones for ship passage if an understanding allowing the reopening of the strait is reached.

Regarding developments in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, Araghchi denied that Iran is a direct party to the ongoing developments there, confirming that events in the Red Sea are linked to their own circumstances and reasons and do not relate to Iran, and that recent developments in Bab el-Mandeb came within the framework of the Ansar Allah seeking to break the economic blockade imposed on Yemen for more than twelve years.

He clarified that Iran announced its readiness to mediate between Saudi Arabia and Yemen to end the conflict but has not yet received a response from either party.

With regard to the nature of relations linking Iran to "Hezbollah" and the "Ansar Allah" movement, Araghchi confirmed that the two movements are not subordinate groups to Iran but enjoy independence in making their decisions, and that the existence of political relations and Iranian support for these two movements does not necessarily mean they receive orders or instructions from Tehran.

Source: "Fars"