Tehran: Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf stated on Wednesday that the United States must honor its commitments under the Islamabad memorandum of understanding before Iran considers reopening the Strait of Hormuz. During a meeting in Tehran with Basem Naim, a senior Hamas official responsible for Islamic relations, Qalibaf emphasized the necessity of US compliance to proceed with the reopening, as reported by Iran's ISNA news agency.

According to Anadolu Agency, Qalibaf highlighted Iran's stance on negotiations with the US, noting that while Tehran does not dismiss diplomacy, it views negotiations as a strategic tool within its broader struggle. He stressed that abandoning confrontation with the US and Israel would be tantamount to defeat. Qalibaf also discussed the Islamabad memorandum, pointing out its first provision, which calls for an end to the war against Iran and its allies, referred to by Tehran as the 'resistance front.'

The memorandum between Iran and the US, signed in Islamabad on June 18 with mediation by Pakistan and Qatar, outlines provisions concerning the cessation of hostilities, navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, and future negotiations between the two nations. Iranian officials have accused Washington of failing to uphold its commitments and have made the full reopening of the strait contingent upon US compliance with the agreement.

The Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway connecting the Gulf with the Gulf of Oman, serves as a major route for global energy shipments. Iran has maintained restrictions on navigation through the strait, linking their conditions to sanctions relief, the release of frozen Iranian assets, and the cessation of military operations against Iran and its regional allies.

In late August, discussions between Tehran and Oman about maritime transit arrangements through the strait were reported, although Iranian officials clarified that these did not signify a full reopening of the waterway.