Iran's chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf declared on Tuesday that Tehran will take over the administration of the Strait of Hormuz, state media reported, following negotiations aimed at ending the US-Israeli conflict against the Islamic republic. The announcement came after Iran and the United States held their first round of talks in Switzerland toward resolving the Middle East crisis.
Key Outcomes of the Talks
Iran and the United States agreed on Monday to establish communication lines to keep the vital shipping route open and to end fighting in Lebanon, according to mediators. Ghalibaf, speaking upon his return from the talks at the luxury Swiss resort of Burgenstock, said the negotiations produced "good achievements." He stated, "The Strait of Hormuz will never return to its pre-war conditions and will be administered by the Islamic Republic of Iran, in accordance with international law," as reported by IRNA.
In a video posted to Ghalibaf's Telegram account, he elaborated on the outcomes: "In my view, this trip had good achievements, especially regarding the discussion of the Strait, the Lebanon discussions, the question of oil waiver, and the matter of releasing the frozen funds."
US Sanctions Suspension and Nuclear Inspections
The United States temporarily suspended sanctions on Iranian oil on Monday after Vice President JD Vance stated that Tehran would allow UN nuclear inspectors to return to the country, following the talks. As part of the deal, Tehran is also expected to receive some form of sanctions relief from Washington, as well as the unfreezing of assets. Ghalibaf added in the video, "Of course, we believe we are still at the beginning of this work and must continue our efforts."
Strait of Hormuz Closure and Reopening
Iranian state media reported that Ghalibaf made a stop in Oman, which shares the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway, which Iran closed at the start of the war, reopened last week after Washington and Tehran reached an agreement. However, Tehran announced on Saturday it had closed the strait again in response to Israeli attacks in Lebanon. Since then, Tehran and Washington have agreed to establish a line of communication "to avoid incidents and miscommunication with the aim of safe passage for commercial vessels" through the waterway, according to Qatari and Pakistani mediators. Maritime traffic in the strait continued to flow on Monday at a faster pace than before the US-Iranian agreement on talks to end the war, according to tracking firms.
