Tehran: Iran has ruled out reopening the Strait of Hormuz or returning to the previous framework of talks with the US until Washington meets conditions conveyed by Tehran through intermediaries, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said.
Ghalibaf said Iran had communicated its demands to the US and would not change its position until those conditions were met.
The statement came as maritime traffic through the strategic waterway, a major route for global energy shipments, remained sharply below normal levels. US Central Command (CENTCOM) said its forces had redirected 109 commercial vessels since the US resumed its naval blockade of Iran on July 14.
Shipping data cited by Reuters showed that only 12 commodity vessels crossed the strait over the weekend, compared with 35 the previous weekend. Before the conflict, the waterway typically handled around 125 vessels a day.
Separately, Yemen’s Houthi group has reportedly assured the US that it will not target American vessels in the Red Sea. At the same time, Houthi political bureau member Mohammed al-Bukhaiti said the group’s operations against Saudi Arabia would continue.
The developments follow contacts between the US and Houthis facilitated by Oman. The Houthis have also continued attacks on Saudi targets, including missile and drone strikes, amid heightened regional tensions.
The disruption around the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb has raised concerns over shipping, energy supplies and wider global trade, although oil flows have remained relatively resilient despite the sharp decline in vessel traffic.
