Following the conclusion of the two-day US-Iranian technical talks held in Doha, informed sources revealed that Washington has delivered clear messages to Tehran.
اضافة اعلان
The sources stated on Thursday that Washington informed the Iranian side of its categorical rejection of any changes to the current status quo in the Strait of Hormuz.
It also emphasized that the US considers Iran's behavior in Hormuz as the first test of its commitment to the agreement and memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed last June, pointing out that any alteration to the waterway would be considered a clear violation of the reached understandings.
The sources explained that Washington is closely monitoring Iranian movements in the strait, stressing that any escalation would have direct repercussions on the trajectory of the understandings.
Next Round on July 18
Furthermore, the sources indicated that Tehran was informed that any progress regarding frozen Iranian assets remains contingent upon its full compliance with the terms of the MoU and its actual behavior on the ground, including matters related to maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz.
Meanwhile, a high-ranking source revealed that the next round of US-Iran negotiations will be held on July 18.
Iranian Warning
Concurrently, the Joint Command of the Iranian Armed Forces asserted that the continued US presence in the airspace over the Strait of Hormuz threatens regional security.
It warned that any US intervention in the Strait of Hormuz would be met with a swift and decisive response.
Additionally, the command noted that "all ships are obligated to take the maritime route designated by Tehran for safe passage through the strait."
Tensions had renewed between Tehran and Washington late last week amid an exchange of strikes triggered by ceasefire violations and attacks on ships in Hormuz. Both sides traded blame over violating the ceasefire following attacks attributed to Iran that targeted vessels attempting to cross the strait.
In response, the United States executed strikes against military targets in southern Iran, while the latter announced it had targeted bases linked to Washington in Kuwait and Bahrain.
Tehran continues to maintain sovereignty over transit traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and seeks to impose service fees, a move strongly opposed by the United States.
Notably, the MoU signed in June between the US and Iranian sides stipulated opening Hormuz without any restrictions or fees for a period of 60 days. Tehran interpreted this as a window that could later allow it to manage the waterway and collect fees for regulating maritime navigation in partnership with the Sultanate of Oman. However, Muscat recently reaffirmed its rejection of imposing any transit fees in a manner that violates the Law of the Sea.
Al Arabiya.net
