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Iran Says Hormuz Stays Under Its Control, US Must Accept Reopening Terms

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Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps spokesman General Hossein Mohebbi said that Iran and Oman have reached an agreement on the Strait of Hormuz, which remains under Iran's control, IRGC-linked Sepah News reported Wednesday.

"The Strait of Hormuz belongs to Iran and Oman, which is in front of us. We entered into negotiations with Oman about a month ago and we have reached results that have been accepted by both sides," Mohebbi said, according to the statement.

Mohebbi said the negotiations established each country's share of the strait's waters and the respective portions of revenue generated from the waterway.

He said Iran maintains control of passage through the strait, adding that enemy warships remain at least 400 kilometers away and cannot pass without Iranian permission and management.

"The Strait of Hormuz is in our hands and there are no enemy military vessels in the Persian Gulf," Mohebbi said.

He accused the US of disrupting the Iran-Oman agreement, saying Washington's actions have delayed the process.

Mohebbi said Iran could reopen the Strait of Hormuz if the US ends its interference and returns to the memorandum of understanding reached with Oman.

"If the United States does not accept our conditions, the Strait of Hormuz will not be opened at all," Mohebbi said.

Meanwhile, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said Tuesday that Tehran and Muscat agreed on a temporary shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz, but full reopening hinges on US compliance with the June memorandum, according to multiple media reports.

Gharibabadi reportedly rejected Trump's claim that the strait's international waters are free of mines, saying it sought to calm markets and warning that US mine-detection vessels would face serious risks if they entered the area.

Gharibabadi said the temporary corridor would enter through Iranian territorial waters and partly exit through them, with the agreed route spanning 7 miles, according to the reports.

Gharibabadi urged countries to resist US sanctions pressure, saying Washington was mistaken about its ability to enforce restrictions against Iran's neighbors.

Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not immediately reply to' request for comment.

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