US must fulfill commitments before Hormuz reopening: Iranian speaker
10:24, 03/09/2026, Thursday
AA
File photo
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said Wednesday that Washington must implement its obligations under the Islamabad memorandum before Tehran lifts restrictions on the strategic Strait of Hormuz, stressing that diplomacy remains a tool in Iran's broader struggle.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said Wednesday that the United States must fulfill its commitments under the Islamabad memorandum of understanding before Tehran moves to reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz, stressing that negotiations remain subordinate to Iran's broader resistance strategy.
Memorandum commitments
Speaking during a meeting in Tehran with Basem Naim, a senior Hamas official responsible for Islamic relations, Qalibaf stated: "The Americans must fulfill their commitments so that we can proceed with reopening the Strait of Hormuz." He noted that Tehran does not reject diplomacy but considers talks a component of its wider struggle, adding: "We do not reject negotiations, but negotiations are a tool for the struggle."
Qalibaf referred to the June 18 memorandum signed between Tehran and Washington following mediation by Pakistan and Qatar, claiming that the document's first provision emphasized an end to hostilities against Iran and its allies in what Tehran calls the "resistance front." He said the US side had initially presented a 15-point proposal demanding a complete halt to Iran's missile and nuclear activities as well as its support for allied groups in the region, according to Iran's ISNA news agency.
Strait restrictions
Iranian officials have since accused Washington of failing to implement its commitments, linking the full reopening of the waterway to US compliance with the agreement. Tehran has maintained restrictions on navigation through the strategic chokepoint — which connects the Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and serves as a major route for global energy shipments — while demanding sanctions relief, the release of frozen assets, and an end to military operations against the Islamic Republic and its regional allies. In late August, authorities said Tehran and Muscat were discussing arrangements for maritime transit through the strait, though they stressed that these measures did not amount to a full reopening of the waterway.
