Ghalibaf says Tehran will manage Strait of Hormuz; key waterway ‘will never return to its original state’ | Today’s news
Iran’s parliament speaker and top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Monday that the Strait of Hormuz would never return to its pre-war situation and would be administered by the Islamic Republic in accordance with international law.
Ghalibaf made the remarks when he returned from attending talks in Switzerland on a permanent end to the US-Iran war. He added that the recent agreement between Tehran and Washington fundamentally changed the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, Press TV reported.
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He said: “Everyone should know that the administration of the Strait of Hormuz will never go back to the way it was before the war,” adding: “Of course international regulations will be followed, but the Strait of Hormuz will be administered by Iran.”
The US and Iran are negotiating in Switzerland
Ghalibaf’s remarks came after the US and Iran agreed on Monday to establish lines of communication to keep a strategic shipping lane open and end fighting in Lebanon, mediators said after the first round of talks in Switzerland to end the conflict.
Washington temporarily suspended sanctions on Iranian oil on Monday after US Vice President JD Vance said Tehran would allow UN nuclear inspectors to return to the country, AFP reported.
In addition, as part of the deal, the Islamic Republic will also receive some form of sanctions relief from the US along with the unfreezing of its assets.
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Ghalibaf announced that the lifting of the oil embargo occurred simultaneously with the signing of the agreement. In addition, sanctions on oil exports, petrochemicals, banking, insurance and transport have been lifted pending a final agreement.
“Ending the war and lifting the siege was achieved through dialogue, method of fighting and reliance on field strength,” he said.
“If implementation problems arise, we can respond both with missiles and through negotiations,” he added.
Swiss route direct continuation of the battlefield: Ghalibaf
Ghalibaf, who visited Switzerland to take part in talks with a US delegation on a permanent end to the war, dismissed the claims as creating a false divide between Tehran’s military achievements and its diplomatic efforts.
He described negotiations with the US as “a method of fighting and continuing to fight”. He argued that the Iranian military’s victory must be secured through political and legal means to make it permanent.
Ghalibaf said: “Our journey to Switzerland was a direct continuation of the battlefield,” adding: “Our armed forces achieved a great victory with honor, strength and courage. In the phase of ceasefire and ending the war, we advanced this phase through negotiations.”
He emphasized that Iran’s approach combines hard and soft power, adding that the lifting of the US naval blockade and major concessions was achieved through diplomacy, not military force alone. He added that if the country sought to lift the blockade by military means, it would be more costly.
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Trump says it’s critical to prevent Iran from getting nuclear weapons
US President Donald Trump on Monday said he will take the required action if Tehran fails to comply with any deal as the first round of technical talks in Switzerland concluded, stressing that stopping the Islamic Republic from acquiring a nuclear weapon is more important than fears of a global fallout that includes the risk of global depression, ANI reported.
Trump made the remarks during a ceremony to sign two executive orders at the White House, adding that coercive measures would be taken if Tehran does not live up to its commitments. He said: “If Iran doesn’t abide by their agreement or if they don’t behave, I will do what I have to do.”
Trump added that the Islamic Republic’s continued cooperation would ensure stability, saying, “As long as they respect us, we won’t have any trouble.” The US president also addressed concerns about the potential economic impact of military action on Iran, rejecting the suggestion that his actions could trigger a depression.
