'We Said Goodbye to "Must" 47 Years Ago': Baghaei Says No Final Agreement with US Yet, Affirms Strict Hormuz Protocols
Tehran - BORNA - Reacting to recent remarks by US President Donald Trump asserting that Iran "must" open the Strait of Hormuz, Baghaei firmly rejected the rhetoric, stating that Iran said goodbye to the language of "must" 47 years ago. He emphasized that if Iran intended to let foreign dictates guide its actions, the Islamic Revolution would never have occurred. The spokesperson underscored that Tehran makes its decisions strictly based on its own sovereign rights and national interests, adding that such American demands should practically be interpreted as "pleas."
Addressing Trump’s recent statement regarding the lifting of the naval blockade, Baghaei characterized the initial US deployment as illegal, a direct violation of the ceasefire, and a disruption to international maritime navigation. He noted that Tehran needs to observe whether Washington will back its words with concrete actions or if the statement is merely a propaganda claim. If implemented, Baghaei added, it would simply mean the cessation of a wrongful and illegal act that the US initiated weeks ago and should have never committed in the first place.
On the nuclear issue and Trump's assertions regarding the elimination of nuclear materials, the spokesperson clarified that Iran’s current diplomatic focus remains entirely on ending the war. Consequently, Tehran is not engaging in any discussions regarding the technical details of its enrichment program or enriched uranium stockpile at this specific stage.
Turning to the status of the Strait of Hormuz, Baghaei asserted that the Americans have deliberately inverted the realities from the very beginning. He explained that following the illegal and aggressive strikes launched by the US and the Israeli regime against Iran, the Strait of Hormuz was placed under special security measures by Iran as a littoral state starting February 28.
The spokesperson explicitly noted that while the Strait of Hormuz remains strictly closed to hostile and military vessels, commercial ships have continued to transit through the waterway during this entire period in full coordination with Iranian authorities.
Regarding the future management of the strategic waterway, Baghaei maintained that the responsibility rests solely with the littoral states of the strait, namely Iran and Oman. He referenced the recent phone call between the foreign ministers of Iran and Oman, noting that the management of the waterway was a key agenda item. He stressed that both Tehran and Muscat maintain a highly responsible approach toward the safety and security of the Strait of Hormuz, aiming to establish mechanisms that secure their national interests while assuring the international community of safe maritime navigation.
Concluding his remarks on whether the strait would be reopened under Iranian sovereignty, Baghaei reiterated that the waterway lies within the territorial waters of Iran and Oman. He emphasized that the current exceptional circumstances cannot be ignored, and as responsible sovereign nations, Iran and Oman must implement frameworks that protect their security while guaranteeing to the global community that secure shipping via this vital route will continue.
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