Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Sunday said the Strait of Hormuz remains under total Iranian control for the next 30 days and any US attacks will only exasperate the precarious situation. He urged all parties to adhere to the recently signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Iran and United States. He also warned that any unilateral action could heighten regional tensions and delay the complete reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
Speaking during an official visit to Iraq, Araghchi said he briefed Iraqi leaders on the outcome of what he described as the “war imposed on Iran” and discussed recent developments surrounding the agreement reached between Iran and the United States.
Addressing a joint press conference in Baghdad, Araghchi maintained that responsibility for managing the strategic waterway rested solely with Tehran and cautioned against interference by any external party. “This responsibility rests on the Islamic Republic of Iran. There is no other party or state in this respect and any intervention or unilateral move would only worsen the situation and postpone the reopening of the strait” he said.
Araghchi called on all stakeholders to honour the memorandum of understanding following recent exchanges between Iran and the United States. He warned that any attempt to pursue arrangements outside the existing agreement would complicate efforts to restore normal maritime operations.
“Any attempt to adopt new or separate arrangements compared to what is underway by the Islamic Republic of Iran will only lead to more complicated situations and delays in the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and will increase the tensions, as we witnessed in the past two nights,” he said.
Araghchi’s remarks come amid renewed security concerns in the Strait of Hormuz following recent attacks on commercial vessels, which prompted maritime authorities to raise the threat level for ships operating in the region.
The Iranian foreign minister reiterated that the implementation of the Iran-US memorandum of understanding remained essential for restoring stability and ensuring the full resumption of shipping through the strategically important energy corridor.