GENEVA — Iran said on Tuesday that it would administer the Strait of Hormuz under a new post-conflict framework, following talks with the United States in Switzerland aimed at sustaining a ceasefire and ensuring maritime transit through one of the world's most important shipping routes.
Iranian parliamentary speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the waterway would remain under Iranian administration and would not return to conditions that existed before the recent conflict. According to Iran's state news agency IRNA, Ghalibaf said: “The Strait of Hormuz will never return to its pre-war conditions and will be administered by the Islamic Republic of Iran, in accordance with international law.”
The statement came a day after Iranian and U.S. negotiators agreed to establish communication channels intended to help maintain safe passage through the strait and reduce the risk of maritime incidents, according to Iranian officials and mediators involved in the talks. Iran's chief negotiator said on Monday that Tehran had agreed to create a direct communication mechanism for shipping traffic in the waterway.
The Strait of Hormuz, located between Iran and Oman, is a key route for global energy shipments. Maritime traffic through the passage has faced repeated disruptions during the recent escalation involving Iran, the United States and regional actors. Iranian authorities previously announced temporary closures of the strait, while U.S. officials at times disputed Tehran's claims regarding the extent of restrictions on navigation.
Iranian officials have for weeks indicated that future management of the waterway would differ from previous arrangements. Tehran has said Iran and Oman, as the coastal states bordering the strait, would play the leading role in establishing any new transit mechanism. Iranian officials have also signaled that shipping procedures could change, though details remain unclear.
The United States, meanwhile, announced on Monday a temporary easing of restrictions on Iranian oil exports as part of broader diplomatic efforts tied to ongoing negotiations. The U.S. Treasury said the measure was linked to commitments by Iran concerning maritime transit and international monitoring arrangements.
Officials from both countries described the latest round of talks as constructive, although significant issues remain under discussion. U.S. and Iranian representatives have said technical negotiations will continue in the coming weeks as diplomats work toward a broader agreement. As of Tuesday, no final accord governing the long-term administration of the Strait of Hormuz had been publicly released, and details of any future maritime framework remained under negotiation.
