Iran Says Strait Of Hormuz Will Never Return To Pre-War Status, Plans New Shipping Service Charges

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said the Strait of Hormuz will not return to its pre-war status and could operate under a new framework if a proposed agreement between Iran and the United States is finalised.

Speaking to Iranian state television on Friday, Araghchi said the draft agreement could be signed remotely in the coming days once negotiations are completed. He said both sides would initially sign the memorandum of understanding digitally before announcing it publicly.

According to Araghchi, the proposed agreement includes the lifting of a U.S. naval blockade on Iranian ports that has been in place since April 13, as well as arrangements related to the future management of the Strait of Hormuz.

“The naval blockade must be completely lifted,” Araghchi said, describing it as one of the key points in the draft agreement.

The foreign minister said Iran had made a firm decision that the administration of the strategic waterway would no longer be the same as before the war. He added that discussions on the issue are continuing with Oman.

Araghchi also said international law does not allow countries to charge transit tolls through the strait. However, he argued that charging fees for services provided to ships would be legally permissible and could become part of a future framework governing the waterway.

He said Iran’s role in managing maritime traffic through the strait could change under the proposed arrangement.

The minister added that temporary shipping arrangements could be introduced during a 60-day period after the agreement is signed while final negotiations continue.

During that period, Iran would ensure the safe passage of commercial and civilian vessels, although military ships could be subject to separate rules.

Araghchi said the proposed memorandum of understanding represents the first stage of a diplomatic process. He added that discussions on Iran’s nuclear programme, including its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, would be postponed until a second phase of negotiations during the 60-day period.

“Our position has always been that the only way to deal with the stockpile of enriched material is to dilute it inside Iran,” he said.

The foreign minister said traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has been under Iranian control since the outbreak of war involving Iran, the United States and Israel on February 28.

He said Iran has only allowed limited numbers of ships to pass through the waterway and has required vessels to obtain permission from its armed forces before transiting.

Araghchi described the Strait of Hormuz as one of Iran’s main deterrence tools and said details of future maritime arrangements would be announced once the agreement is finalised.

On Thursday, US President Donald Trump said he had called off planned strikes on Iran and suggested that a deal to end the conflict could be signed soon.

Araghchi also warned that opponents of the agreement could attempt to derail the process, singling out Israel as the main opponent.

Separately, Iranian lawmaker Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesman for parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, said Araghchi told lawmakers during a closed-door meeting that the Strait of Hormuz would not return to its pre-war status.

Rezaei also said the foreign minister indicated that Tehran is not currently engaged in nuclear talks with US.

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most important shipping routes, carrying large volumes of global oil and energy exports.

Any future changes to its management, shipping procedures or security arrangements are likely to be closely watched by the maritime and energy sectors.

References: MoneyControl, Al Arabiya