Iran has accused the United States of attempting to establish a new transit route through the Strait of Hormuz without coordinating with Tehran, a move Tehran says breaches the terms of the interim peace agreement between the two countries and has heightened tensions in the region. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi made the remarks in an interview disseminated by Iranian media on Saturday, emphasizing that the US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed in June, grants Iran the authority to determine transit routes and oversee mechanisms for managing passage through the strategic waterway.
Araghchi criticized Washington for not consulting Iran before advancing any new routes and reiterated that both parties had agreed to maintain a direct communication channel to resolve such disputes. His comments come amid tentative signs of de-escalation following nearly two weeks of reciprocal strikes targeting each other's interests, which had severely undermined the interim agreement.
According to Iranian health ministry spokesperson Hossein Kermanpour, Iran experienced a “peaceful night” on Saturday, a notable shift from the nearly continuous nightly attacks in previous weeks. Similarly, US President Donald Trump appeared to ease rhetoric regarding potential retaliatory strikes against Iran, suggesting on Friday that while an agreement was not imminent, he remained open to negotiations. “They [Iranian officials] are talking to us right now; they’d love to make a deal,” Trump stated. “I don’t think they’re ready to … but I’m willing to listen.”
Iranian officials have confirmed ongoing communications with the US through intermediaries, though progress remains limited. According to Al Jazeera correspondent Resul Serdar, who reported from Tehran, proposals have been exchanged, but “fundamental differences” and entrenched mistrust continue to inhibit significant breakthroughs.
Control over the Strait of Hormuz remains a critical and contentious issue between the two nations. The waterway is a vital chokepoint through which a significant portion of global oil supplies transit. On Friday, US Central Command spokesman Tim Hawkins told reporters that US forces had “disabled” a tanker that repeatedly attempted to breach a US-imposed blockade and ignored warnings to halt. This incident underscores the ongoing disputes over freedom of navigation and the enforcement of security measures in the strait.
While both sides have signaled a willingness to maintain dialogue, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz continues to be a flashpoint in an increasingly complex and volatile relationship between the United States and Iran.