The IRGC-affiliated Fars News Agency denied reports of a new agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, stating that the waterway remains closed. In a statement, the IRGC said that passage will only be permitted on a pre-announced route and with approval from the IRGC navy, as long as the United States continues its 'hostile actions.'
On Sunday afternoon, the IRGC-affiliated Fars News Agency denied reports of a new agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, stating that the waterway remains closed. The IRGC said that passage will only be permitted on a pre-announced route and with approval from the IRGC navy, as long as the United States continues its 'hostile actions.'
The denial is the latest in a series of statements from Iranian sources throughout the day. At 12:20 Jerusalem, The Zioneer first reported that the IRGC had denied any agreement and stated the waterway would remain closed. Minutes later, a source close to the Iranian negotiating team confirmed the denial, adding that vessel traffic would only be allowed via a designated route with IRGC Navy approval. By 12:46, Fars News Agency issued a categorical denial of any agreement, and at 12:48, Tehran stated that the strait would remain closed as long as US 'hostile actions' continue.
The Strait of Hormuz has been effectively closed since July 12, when the IRGC declared a temporary closure citing 'foreign intervention,' as The Zioneer reported at the time. Since then, the IRGC has repeatedly denied diplomatic openings, including rejecting a reported hotline with the US on June 26 and repelling oil tankers on July 30. The latest statement reaffirms the IRGC's control over the strategic waterway and its insistence that the US cease its actions before any reopening.
The IRGC's statement has not been independently verified by maritime monitoring agencies, and the actual status of traffic through the strait remains unclear. The desk is monitoring for physical confirmation of the blockade.
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