A source close to the Iranian negotiating team has denied reports that an agreement was reached to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, stating that the strait remains closed and that vessel traffic will only be permitted via a designated route subject to the approval of the IRGC Navy.
A source close to the Iranian negotiating team told The Zioneer today (Sunday) that there is no agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, directly contradicting reports that had circulated in recent hours. The source stated that the strait remains closed and that any vessel movement will only be permitted via a designated route subject to the approval of the IRGC Navy. This is the latest denial from Iranian officials after earlier reports of a potential diplomatic breakthrough.
The denial follows a series of statements from Iranian sources earlier today. At 12:20 Jerusalem, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) denied reports of an agreement, citing informed sources through the IRGC-affiliated Fars News Agency, stating that the waterway will remain closed as long as the United States continues its "hostile actions" and that vessel passage is permitted only on a pre-announced route with IRGC Navy approval. At the same time, Iranian state media rejected reports of a deal, calling them "false." At 12:33 Jerusalem, Fars News Agency explicitly stated that no agreement exists. The source speaking to The Zioneer, described as close to the Iranian negotiating team, adds a further layer of corroboration from a diplomatic channel.
The Strait of Hormuz has been under effective Iranian closure since late June, when the IRGC announced it was closed to Israel-linked vessels. As The Zioneer has reported, the IRGC has asserted exclusive control over the waterway and warned that any attempt to violate the closure would be met with force. Previous reports of a potential reopening through Qatari or Omani mediation have been repeatedly denied by Iranian officials. The IRGC has also linked the closure to its broader regional posture, including the conflict in Lebanon.
The scope of the Iranian negotiating team's authority remains unclear, and no official statement has been issued by the Iranian government as a whole. The conditions under which the strait might be reopened, if at all, have not been specified beyond the IRGC's demands.
4 developments
- StrongIranian outlets claim Strait of Hormuz remains closed, contradicting US denials
- DevelopingIRGC threatens to re-close Strait of Hormuz unless it gets sole control guarantees, WSJ reports
- StrongIRGC attacked vessel in Strait of Hormuz overnight, Channel 14 reports
- DevelopingIRGC seizes two ships in Strait of Hormuz, forces four others to turn back — Fars agency
Source and signal
- Open-source intake