Iran has withdrawn from a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United States, citing American violations, and has declared its intention to assert full control over the Strait of Hormuz, including Oman's portion of the waterway. Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran's Deputy Minister for Legal and International Affairs, stated that Iran will exercise 'full sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, no matter the costs,' according to The Hormuz Letter.
Iran's Stance on the Strait of Hormuz
Gharibabadi emphasized that while Oman is typically one of two countries controlling the strait, 'for national security reasons Iran must control all of the strait' during wartime, as reported by the Tasnim news agency. The Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of global oil passes, has been a flashpoint in the conflict that began on February 28, when joint US-Israeli attacks targeted several key Iranian sites.
In retaliation, Iran closed the critical trade route. On June 17, the US and Iran signed an MoU aimed at ending the war within 60 days. The agreement was intended to secure a lasting peace, restore international shipping, and resolve disputes over Tehran's nuclear programme.
US-Iran Tensions Escalate
However, US President Donald Trump declared the ceasefire 'over' at a NATO summit in Türkiye last week. 'I don't want to deal with them anymore. They're scum,' he told reporters. Gharibabadi responded by accusing the US of not only violating the agreement but completely dismantling it, particularly through a naval blockade on Iranian ports. He added that Iran 'will never request negotiations with the United States.'
Reports also indicate that Trump announced strikes on all of Iran's power plants, bridges, and energy sites, starting next week. He stated that the US will strike Iran 'hard tonight, tomorrow night, the night after.'
