Free Passage of Strait of Hormuz Only for 60 Days – Iran’s Parliament Speaker

ISTANBUL: The free passage of the Strait of Hormuz is only granted for a period of 60 days based on the memorandum of understanding (MoU) recently signed with the United States (US).

In an interview broadcast via Telegram channel on Tuesday, Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher, who is also the country’s chief negotiator, stressed that Iran will never relinquish its rights over the Strait of Hormuz.

Commenting on the retaliatory strikes between Iran and the US over the past weekend, he claimed Tehran viewed the action as a violation of the agreement, which was aimed at ending the conflict between both parties.

“In the latest ceasefire violation, US military bases in Bahrain and Kuwait have been targeted,” he said.

Mohammad Bagher said the development showed that Iran is serious about implementing the memorandum while continuing diplomatic negotiations, but warned that the country is prepared for war if the US fails to fulfil its commitments.

He also claimed that Israeli attacks in Lebanon have significantly decreased since the memorandum was signed.

“In the field of diplomacy, we are also working to continue negotiations to implement the five conditions that should have been enforced as soon as the memorandum was signed or its implementation process began,” he said.

According to Mohammad Bagher, based on the memorandum, out of Iran’s total assets worth US$12 billion (RM50.9 billion), the funds will be channelled to the central bank.

He said the move would allow the country to purchase whatever goods it needs in any currency around the world.

He also claimed that sanctions related to oil exports had been lifted and Iran is now selling its oil at prices 20 percent higher than before.

“Since the sanctions on shipping routes were lifted, we have exported more than 40 million barrels of oil,” he said.

Commenting on the possibility of increased military tensions with Washington, Mohammad Bagher warned that Iran is prepared to face any conflict.

“If the US wants war, we know how to fight.

“If they want to stop us from selling oil, then no one will benefit from oil,” he said.

Mohammad Bagher also claimed that Iran targeted Israel as an act of defending Lebanon, while continuing to demand the implementation of the memorandum.

He said a joint committee comprising representatives from Iran and the US would be established to drive efforts to end the conflict in Lebanon.

The memorandum of understanding brokered by Pakistan came into effect on 18 June after being signed electronically by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and US President Donald Trump.

The memorandum provides a framework for ending the conflict and resolving outstanding issues between Washington and Tehran through negotiations, including the cessation of hostilities, sanctions relief, Iran’s nuclear programme issue, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz as well as more comprehensive regional security arrangements.

Berita Harian