Iran's Parliament Speaker Declares Hormuz Strait's Pre-War Status Irreversible, Places Talks in US Court

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s parliament speaker and chief negotiator, has stated in an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera that the Strait of Hormuz will “never return” to its condition before the US-Israel war on Iran. Ghalibaf revealed that Iran and Oman have reached an understanding to jointly manage the crucial waterway as part of Tehran’s seven-point proposal aimed at ending the eight-month conflict. He asserted that the concept of “free waters” or international waters does not apply in the strait, and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea is not applicable. Instead, he emphasized that regulations within the Strait of Hormuz are governed by the laws of the two bordering states.

Ghalibaf further explained that Tehran has formally communicated its seven conditions for peace talks to the US via a Qatari mediator and is awaiting an official response, stating, “The ball is now in the American court.” These conditions, as detailed by the chief negotiator, include the lifting of US-imposed naval blockades and sanctions, the unfreezing of Iranian assets, a cessation of hostilities on all fronts, and a clear declaration of the war’s end. He noted that these demands are rooted in the Islamabad memorandum of understanding signed in June and must be implemented before negotiations with the US can commence. Ghalibaf expressed that an agreement is possible if the US adheres to the agreed terms without making excessive demands or engaging in actions that erode trust, adding, “What stands in the way of an agreement is our lack of trust in the United States.”

Regarding potential renewed conflict, Ghalibaf mentioned that US officials had approached Russian President Vladimir Putin to mediate direct negotiations with Tehran during a visit to Moscow. He cautioned against further US attacks on Iran, predicting that US President Donald Trump would face further defeat and political pressure from the incoming Congress in January. Iran, he affirmed, is committed to moving beyond a state of “no war and no peace” and is focused on developing sustainable deterrent capabilities, including military strength.

Concerning the conflict in Yemen between the Saudi-backed internationally recognized government forces and the Houthi group (Ansar Allah), Ghalibaf stated that “no one should interfere” in the internal affairs of Yemen. He offered Iran’s assistance in resolving the conflict if both the Yemeni government and Saudi Arabia were to request it. Iran had previously offered to mediate talks between Saudi Arabia and Yemen's Houthi group in October, following a series of attacks on the kingdom.