Trending
Iran has rejected US claims over the Hormuz Strait, insisting that Washington cannot control or seize the strategic waterway. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also accused the United States of violating the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, which he said called for an end to the war rather than a temporary ceasefire. He said Pakistan and Qatar remain in contact with Tehran but have not yet helped restart direct negotiations. At the same time, Iran and Oman continue discussions over a temporary route for shipping through the strait. The dispute comes as oil prices rise and commercial traffic through the key energy route remains sharply below normal levels.
Araghchi said the Islamabad memorandum did not establish a 60-day ceasefire. Instead, he said, it declared an end to the conflict and set a 60-day period for negotiations toward a final agreement.
“The US violated the memorandum,” Araghchi said, accusing Washington of triggering a new round of hostilities.
He added that Pakistan and Qatar continue to exchange messages with Iran. However, he stressed that Tehran has not decided to resume negotiations with the United States.
Iran and Oman are also holding separate talks about managing traffic through the strategic waterway. Araghchi said Iran is working on a temporary route that could later become permanent.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi also rejected US President Donald Trump’s comments about the waterway.
Gharibabadi said Iran controls access to the strait and dismissed claims that the United States could take control of it.
He said the waterway remains under Iranian authority and that Tehran would decide whether to close or reopen it.
Gharibabadi also rejected Trump’s suggestion that the United States could declare the strait US territory after the conflict. Trump later appeared to joke about the idea, according to US media reports.
Commercial traffic through the waterway has fallen sharply since the conflict began. Data cited from shipping analytics firm Kpler showed that only 3,371 vessels crossed the strait during the first 166 days of the war.
That represented about 20% of normal pre-war traffic.
On Friday, only two vessels crossed the waterway, with no crude oil shipments visible in available tracking data. Some vessels may have travelled with their tracking systems switched off.
The disruption has raised concerns across global energy markets. The strait connects the Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and carries a significant share of the world’s oil shipments.
Regional tensions have also continued to spread beyond the US-Iran conflict.
Lebanon’s state news agency reported that an Israeli air strike killed seven people in the southern village of Ansar on Saturday. Three others reportedly suffered injuries.
The Israeli military said it targeted Hezbollah infrastructure in what it described as a security zone.
Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem criticised the US-backed framework between Lebanon and Israel. He rejected the conditions requiring Hezbollah to disarm and described the arrangement as an Israeli demand.
Israel has maintained forces in parts of southern Lebanon. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has said the troops will remain until Hezbollah gives up its weapons.
Qatar Challenges Asian Football Confederation Over FIFA Infantino Criticism
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi praised Iran’s armed forces for their performance during months of fighting.
According to Iranian state media, Vahidi said the military campaign had demonstrated Iran’s ability to resist a heavily armed opponent.
He praised members of the IRGC, Army, police, Basij and other security forces for their role in the conflict.
Meanwhile, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Tehran had suspended negotiations following an attack on Beirut’s Dahiyeh district.
He warned that Iran would respond to attacks and said any further escalation could trigger strikes across the region.
The continuing uncertainty has affected global energy markets.
Brent crude futures rose about $1 a barrel on Friday and were heading for a weekly gain of around 6%. West Texas Intermediate crude also recorded strong weekly gains.
US fuel prices have climbed as the conflict continues. The average US gasoline price reached about $4.08 per gallon on Friday, according to the American Automobile Association.
Trump has urged Americans to accept higher fuel costs while Washington continues its campaign against Iran.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, meanwhile, blamed inflation in his country on US sanctions and restrictions affecting Iranian oil exports.
The Islamabad MoU now faces serious uncertainty as Tehran and Washington remain divided over the terms of any future settlement.
Araghchi said Iran does not consider the previous arrangement a temporary ceasefire that requires an extension. He described the current situation as a new phase following what Iran considered the end of the war.
With shipping still restricted and military tensions continuing across the region, diplomatic efforts face another major test. The future of the Hormuz waterway remains closely tied to the wider conflict and the global energy market.
Copyright © 2026 99News. All Rights Reserved.
[…] Iran Rejects US Claims as Hormuz Strait Dispute Deepens […]