Iran has declared that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed unless the United States agrees to fully comply with a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed earlier between Presidents Donald Trump and Massoud Pezeshkian, and accepts Iran’s legal authority over the waterway. The announcement comes as hostilities enter their sixth day, with both sides escalating military and diplomatic pressure.
Iranian Army spokesperson Brigadier General Mohammad Akraminia said reopening the strait is conditional on Washington “ceasing malicious activities” and allowing “Iranian laws to prevail.” He described control of the strait as a “public and national demand” and insisted that Iran’s position is non‑negotiable. According to Akraminia, “until the United States accepts the Iranian legal system and a mechanism based on Iranian will governs the Strait of Hormuz, this strait will remain closed.”
Iran maintains that the MoU signed in Islamabad gives it administrative authority over the strait, and officials argue that the agreement’s language supports their interpretation. Tehran has repeatedly accused the US of violating the MoU by conducting military operations and interfering with maritime traffic.
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz — a chokepoint through which one‑fifth of the world’s oil and LNG shipments normally pass — has severely disrupted global energy markets. Vessel traffic has fallen to pre‑MoU levels, and tanker movement has slowed sharply amid fears of further escalation. Some ships have been rerouted through a narrow passage near Oman, monitored by US forces, but this route remains limited and outside Iran’s control.
With tensions rising and diplomatic channels strained, analysts warn that the standoff could trigger broader regional instability unless both sides return to negotiations.