Iran: "Strait of Hormuz Will Remain Closed Until U.S. Fulfills Commitments"

Ghalibaf: "Maritime Blockade and Sanctions Must Be Lifted"

Ceasefire MOU Negotiation Deadline Passes

U.S.-Iran Standoff Likely to Prolong

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the Iranian parliamentary speaker and former head of the ceasefire negotiation team, stated on August 18 (local time) that Iran would not reopen the Strait of Hormuz until the United States fulfills the commitments specified in the ceasefire memorandum of understanding (MOU).

In a speech broadcast on state television that day, Speaker Ghalibaf declared, "I make it clear that the Strait of Hormuz will not be opened until the United States fulfills the promises stipulated in the MOU."

He outlined the conditions the U.S. must meet, including lifting the maritime blockade on Iranian ports, removing oil sanctions, unfreezing overseas assets, and halting military threats and operations.

The United States and Iran signed the ceasefire MOU on June 17, 2026, and began sixty days of negotiations to reach a final agreement. The MOU included provisions such as the U.S. easing its maritime blockade, lifting sanctions against Iran, and Iran guaranteeing the safe passage of merchant ships through the Strait of Hormuz.

However, the two sides failed to reach a final agreement even after the sixty-day negotiation deadline had passed. As the United States and Iran remain unable to resolve their differences over reopening the Strait of Hormuz and lifting sanctions and blockades against Iran, the standoff between the two countries is increasingly likely to become prolonged.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.