Iran sets 7 conditions for reopening Strait of Hormuz, rules out nuclear talks
Iran has said the Strait of Hormuz will not reopen until the United States meets seven conditions agreed under a June memorandum of understanding, Iranian state media reported on Sunday.
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, who is also Iran’s top negotiator, said Tehran had made its position clear during diplomatic contacts with Washington.
“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 was quoted as saying.
He also warned Washington against delaying the diplomatic process or attempting to impose unilateral demands.
Iran had presented a proposal during the United Nations General Assembly under which the strategic waterway could be reopened and normal maritime traffic restored within seven days if the conditions were met. The United States responded to the proposal last week through Qatari intermediaries.
Qatar has been carrying messages between Tehran and Washington as both sides seek to resolve the dispute and restore shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.IRAN RULES OUT NUCLEAR TALKS FOR NOW
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran had communicated its broad response to the US through mediators, but some additional points still needed to be conveyed.
Baghaei said the US proposals were broadly consistent with Washington’s earlier positions, particularly on Iran’s nuclear programme.
He said Tehran had made clear that its immediate focus was the Strait of Hormuz and restoring security in the waterway.
Baghaei also denied reports that Iran had offered inspections of its nuclear facilities by the UN nuclear watchdog in return for sanctions relief. He said Tehran had not entered into nuclear discussions with Washington.
An official briefed on the talks said last week that the proposal under discussion envisaged a seven-day confidence-building period aimed at restoring an enhanced version of the June memorandum. That agreement included provisions concerning both the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear programme.
According to the official, the main disagreement between the two sides was over the sequence in which the proposed measures would be implemented rather than the measures themselves.IRAN WARNS OF MILITARY RESPONSE
Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi separately told foreign ambassadors and diplomats in Tehran on Sunday that Iran hoped Washington would choose diplomacy but warned that Tehran was prepared to respond if the US resumed 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,” Araqchi said.
The warning came days after sources told Reuters that Iran was preparing a broader response if Washington resumed large-scale military attacks.
The Strait of Hormuz is a major global energy transit route. Before the conflict that began at the end of February with US and Israeli attacks on Iran, the waterway carried around one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies.
The June memorandum had contributed to a brief ceasefire and included provisions relating to the strait and Iran’s nuclear programme.
Iranian army spokesperson Mohammad Akraminia told Fars news agency on Sunday that Iran would increase the range of its missiles, adding to concerns over a possible escalation if diplomatic efforts fail.- EndsWith Reuters inputs
