Hormuz Strait will ‘never return’ to pre-war status, Iran’s Ghalibaf says
Iran's parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has declared the Strait of Hormuz will 'never return' to its status before the US-Israel war on Iran, as Tehran awaits a US response to its seven conditions for ending the eight-month conflict.
In an exclusive interview published on Wednesday, Ghalibaf stated that Iran and Oman have established an understanding to jointly oversee the strategic Strait of Hormuz. This development comes as part of Tehran's seven-point proposal aimed at ending the eight-month conflict that has disrupted global oil supplies.
Ghalibaf emphasized that the strait's legal status has fundamentally changed, with new regulations governed by the laws of the two littoral states bordering it rather than international maritime conventions. 'There are no 'free waters' [international waters] there, and the 1982 [UN Convention on the Law of the Sea] does not apply to the strait,' he said.
Seven Conditions for Peace
Tehran has presented its seven conditions for ending the conflict through a Qatari mediator, with Ghalibaf stating that Iran is now awaiting an official US response. These conditions include lifting the US-imposed naval blockade and sanctions, releasing Iranian frozen funds, ending fighting on all fronts, and an explicit announcement of an end to the war.
The ball is now in the American court.
Distrust and Renewed Conflict
Ghalibaf revealed that US officials had recently asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to mediate direct negotiations with Tehran. He warned against potential new US attacks, suggesting that President Trump would face political pressure from the new Congress taking office in January.
Iran's chief negotiator emphasized that trust in the United States remains the primary obstacle to reaching an agreement. 'What stands in the way of an agreement is our lack of trust in the United States,' he stated, adding that Tehran is determined to develop sustainable deterrent capabilities.
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