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Iran Says Safe Passage Through Strait of Hormuz Cannot Be Guaranteed
Iran's deputy foreign minister stated Friday that safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz cannot be guaranteed under current arrangements. The comment follows a reported strike on a cargo vessel and ongoing disagreements between Tehran and Washington over transit routes and the use of unfrozen funds.
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Iran's deputy foreign minister said Friday that safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz cannot be guaranteed if arrangements remain ambiguous or exclude Iranian decision-making. Kareem Gharibabadi posted on X that vessels must respect Iran's role as the coastal state.
The United Nations' International Maritime Organization said Tuesday that two routes exist: one through Iranian waters and another along Oman's coast.
Iranian forces struck a cargo vessel in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday. The incident occurred amid continued disagreement between Tehran and Washington over control of the waterway and how Iran may spend unfrozen funds. President Trump said Thursday that Iran would be required to purchase U.S. wheat, corn, and soy with the released funds.
Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson responded by citing U.S. food insecurity statistics and ending official tracking of household hunger.
Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said Friday that the group will not disarm and that Israeli forces must withdraw completely from Lebanon. He described disarmament demands as an Israeli agenda and rejected external pressure on the Lebanese government. Qassem also stated that the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding represents an acknowledgment of the defeat of the Israeli-American project.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun welcomed efforts by France and Italy to form a coalition to replace the U.N. peacekeeping force whose mandate ends December 31, 2026.
