The Iranian government said the United States must restore the memorandum of understanding (MOU) to end hostilities that it scrapped as the top precondition for reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Iran made clear a hard-line stance that there will never be any preemptive step to normalize passage through the strait unless the United States fully carries out its agreed obligations first.
According to the AP on the 26th (local time), Iran Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi reaffirmed in a local TV interview on the 25th that Iran would not back down under U.S. pressure and would hold on to control over the strait. He emphasized, "Before taking steps to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the United States must fully implement all the obligations it violated." Minister Gharibabadi went on to criticize that the fundamental responsibility for the preemptive closure of the strait "lies with the United States, which broke its promises," and set the end of all-front fighting, the lifting of the blockade, and a resolution of the Yemen situation as essential conditions for opening the strait.
Iran also signaled a strategy to secure maritime safety by excluding outside interference and talking directly with regional countries. Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with Oman Foreign Minister Badr Al-Busaidi, who visited Tehran that day, to discuss opening a temporary joint shipping lane to manage traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Minister Araghchi cited negotiations with Oman on a joint management system for the strait as an example and stressed that it is important to resolve issues through discussions with neighboring countries without Western intervention. The two countries plan to continue technical talks on mine clearance and establishing a permanent maritime corridor.
Iran also made its position clear to the United States through mediator Pakistan. Pakistan's army chief, Asim Munir, visited Tehran on the 24th and received Iran's key demands, including a return to the Islamabad agreement and implementation of provisions specifying Iran's authority within the Strait of Hormuz.
The United States, meanwhile, is ramping up pressure on Iran, raising even the possibility of military involvement after reinstating powerful economic sanctions. U.S. President Donald Trump claimed on social media on the 25th that the U.S. Navy had cleared all mines inside the strait and said, "We have notified Iran that any ship or boat laying new mines will be destroyed immediately and systematically." Vice Minister Gharibabadi dismissed the mine-clearing claim as a propagandistic lie and shot back, "If U.S. minesweepers come into this area, they will make very fine targets for us."
Experts say whether Middle East maritime logistics return to normal ultimately depends on a decision by the U.S. government. Anna Jacobs, a researcher at the Arab Gulf States Institute, told Bloomberg that "talks between Iran and Oman are a small step in the right direction," but added that "the sincerity of these talks can be assessed depending on the U.S. response and coordination."