Iran Foreign Ministry Counters Revolutionary Guards, Says Hormuz Remains Open
The Foreign Ministry of Iran has dismissed the claim of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on the Strait of Hormuz. In a statement broadcast over maritime radio channels, IRGC reportedly accused the United States of violating the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed on Wednesday by US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. […]
The Foreign Ministry of Iran has dismissed the claim of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on the Strait of Hormuz.
In a statement broadcast over maritime radio channels, IRGC reportedly accused the United States of violating the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed on Wednesday by US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
According to the IRGC, key conditions of the agreement included Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon, the complete lifting of the naval blockade, and the withdrawal of American forces from the Persian Gulf and surrounding areas.
“Since Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon, the complete lifting of the naval blockade, and the withdrawal of American terrorist forces from the Persian Gulf and the region are among the main conditions of the agreement between Iran and the United States, the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until these conditions are met,” the statement said.
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It further warned that all ships should avoid the strategic waterway for safety reasons, adding that any vessel ignoring the directive could be targeted.
But Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said there was “no basis” for claims that Iran had shut the strategic shipping route, according to remarks published by Tasnim News Agency on Friday.
The alleged announcement raised fresh concerns over global oil supplies and maritime trade, given the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant portion of the world’s crude oil shipments passes.
Under the 14-point memorandum of understanding signed earlier this week between the United States and Iran, the Strait of Hormuz was to remain open and toll-free for 60 days while both sides negotiate long-term arrangements regarding maritime access and regional security.
In exchange, the United States agreed to lift its naval blockade on Iranian ports, marking a major step in efforts to ease tensions between Washington and Tehran.
However, the presence of some US vessels in nearby waters appears to have fueled speculation about the implementation of the agreement.
The US Central Command said while the blockade had been lifted, some American vessels remain stationed “in the general area.”
The conflicting statements from Iran’s military and diplomatic authorities have created uncertainty over the status of the waterway, though Tehran’s latest official position indicates the Strait remains open to international shipping.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints, linking the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.
Any disruption to traffic through the passage can trigger sharp reactions in global energy markets and heighten geopolitical tensions across the Middle East.