Tehran [Iran], August 8 (ANI): The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has said that the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz depends on the United States accepting Iran’s conditions, while stressing that the issue has no connection to the ongoing negotiations between Tehran and Muscat, according to the Iranian Fars News Agency.
IRGC spokesperson Sardar Hossein Mohebbi said that the reopening of the strategic waterway is “contingent upon the United States accepting Iran’s conditions and has no connection to the Iran-Oman negotiations.”
The statement comes as a US official stated on Friday (local time) that progress has been made in talks between Iran and Oman, which could lead to the reopening of the strategic Strait of Hormuz and restore oil exports disrupted by the five-month-old conflict.
Reuters, citing the US official speaking on the condition of anonymity, noted that Washington expects an agreement shortly between Iran and Oman, the two nations bordering the waterway, allowing standard commercial oil shipments to resume. Securing a deal over control of the strategic passage is considered a key stepping stone toward a broader peace agreement.
“There is progress between Oman and Iran on the strait, and we expect a deal soon. Once the deal is announced to restore commercial shipping without impediments, the United States will lift the blockade of Iranian ports,” Reuters reported the official as saying.
The official emphasised that future steps would depend on Iran fulfilling its obligations, stating, “As always, US actions will continue to be performance-based and tied to Iran’s implementation of its commitments.”
On the other hand, US President Donald Trump on Thursday (local time) expressed confidence that the conflict involving Iran would end “pretty soon,” saying that he believes the Islamic Republic “can’t go much longer”. He also voiced optimism over ongoing negotiations related to the Strait of Hormuz, while reaffirming the commitment to prevent Iran from posessing a nuclear weapon.
Speaking to reporters at the Oval Office, Trump expressed optimism about negotiations concerning the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical maritime trade routes for oil shipments.
On a possible agreement between the US and Iran, Trump said, “I don’t want to say it has been… it’s sort of open right now. We have a thing called the blockade headed up by the US Navy, and we control it. But they can always shoot something or drop a mine… if you have one mine sitting out there, you sort of mess things up because people don’t want to take their billion-dollar boats and accidentally get hit by a mine. But I think we’re doing very well. I am involved in the negotiations. I think we are doing fine… it could be soon.” (ANI)
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