Iran has warned that the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz will not reopen unless the United States ends what Tehran describes as its war against Iran, as the Islamic Republic simultaneously discusses a temporary maritime corridor with neighbouring Oman.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said on Wednesday that no military vessel would be permitted to transit the strait.
He stated that military ships from any country would be barred from passing through the waterway, while Iranian authorities would monitor commercial vessels seeking to navigate the route.
New tensions amid US sanctions
The warning comes as Washington intensifies pressure on Tehran through a new round of sanctions.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said the measures are designed to increase economic pressure on Iran, warning of what he described as potential "economic asphyxiation".
Talks with Oman
During talks in Tehran, the foreign ministers of Iran and Oman discussed a "phased framework" that includes the creation of a joint temporary transit corridor through the Strait of Hormuz.
According to a statement, the discussions also covered a joint project aimed at clearing mines from the strait.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Tuesday that the proposed framework demonstrates how Iran's commitment to peace and stability can be combined with firm diplomacy with its neighbours.
Global trade route at stake
Tehran has shut the crucial waterway, which normally carries around one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas exports, while the United States has imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports.
The developments raise fresh concerns over global energy supplies and shipping routes as tensions between Tehran and Washington continue.
Source: CNA
