Hormuz Strait to remain shut until U.S. meets interim deal conditions, Iran says - Reuters

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Jerusalem Post / Middle East / Iran News Hormuz Strait to remain closed until US meets interim deal conditions, Iran's top negotiator says Ghalibaf claimed that the US only agreed to the original Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding “out of desperation,” alleging that the US has experienced “heavy political defeat.” Follow us on Google A security personnel stands guard as Iranians take part in a protest marking the annual al-Quds Day, on the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan, in Tehran, Iran, March 13, 2026 ( photo credit : MAJID ASGARIPOUR/WANA (WEST ASIA NEWS AGENCY) VIA REUTERS ) By REUTERS , JERUSALEM POST STAFF AUGUST 18, 2026 12:18 Updated : AUGUST 18, 2026 13:07 The Strait of Hormuz will remain shut until the US meets the conditions of an interim deal signed with Iran in June, the top Iranian negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said in comments published by state media on Tuesday. These conditions include the US lifting its blockade of Iranian ports, lifting oil sanctions,releasingTehran's frozen assets, and ending threats and military operations on all fronts, Ghalibaf told parliament. Ghalibaf claimed that the US only agreed to the original Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) “out of desperation,” alleging that the US reneged on the commitments outlined in the MoU to compensate for what he alleged was “heavy political defeat.” The MoU, clinched on June 17, quickly unraveled over a dispute about control of the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway through which a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas flowed before the war. US President Donald Trump said the deal was "over" on July 7, and a week later, Iran's foreign ministry declared it "suspended." Vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, August 3, 2026. (credit: REUTERS/STRINGER/FILE PHOTO) Under the MoU, Iran and the US had committed to negotiating a final deal - covering broader issues such as the fate of Iran's nuclear program - in a maximum of 60 days , extendable by mutual consent. A senior Iranian official told Reuters on Monday that Iran would now shift to a " fully offensive " posture because of the stalled diplomatic efforts to secure a permanent end to the conflict. The one email that makes sense of the Middle East. Iran, the Gulf, Syria, Turkey, and whatever moved that day, from The Jerusalem Post, every evening. Top Stories IDF soldiers number Palestinian suspects Two-thirds of 2025 religion-based hate crimes against Jews Iran's drone strike on Kurds may be warning over backchannel Likud primaries: Eli Cohen wins top slot, Ohana second IDF locates remains of fallen soldier Yehuda Katz Syria blames Israeli for airstrikes on military airfield ANALYSIS Kusra siege on Palestinian homes highlights deepening rift Copyright ©2026 Jpost Inc. All rights reserved

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