US lacks moral or legal standing to demand reopening of Strait of Hormuz: Iran
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Aug 10, 2026, 2:19 PM
News ID: 86232400
Tehran, IRNA -- Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei says Iran's move to close the shipping through the Strait of Hormuz was in response to the continued US aggressive actions against the country, arguing that Washington has no moral or legal standing to demand the reopening of the strategic waterway.
Baqaei made the remarks during his weekly press briefing on Monday, in response to a question about the New York Times' claims based on a list of Iran's demands and their impact on the strait's reopening, as well as issues such as compensation, lifting of the Yemen blockade, withdrawal of American forces, and updating the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding.
He said the American media construct was more aimed at whitewashing the key issue, that is, the reason behind the current situation of the Strait of Hormuz, which was open from the time of the creation of Adam until the illegal and unprovoked US-Israeli aggression in March.
Despite the decades of cruel and unfair Western sanctions on Iran, he continued, the Islamic Republic, being the guardian of the Strait of Hormuz, never obstructed the vessels carrying a significant part of the world's energy through this waterway.
Let us not forget that the problems that arose for Hormuz were the result of the US-Israeli military aggression, Baqaei reiterated, adding that if the Americans were concerned about the current situation, they should refer to their own government that proudly announced besieging Iranian ports and attacking Iranian ships.
In these circumstances, the spokesperson said, the US had no moral or legal standing to complain about the closure of the strait, since it is a US-created problem, and as long as the American violations continue, there will be no change in the status quo.
Diplomatic and security apparatus coordinated
Baqaei also rejected any differences in opinions in the country's executive and legislative branches on the negotiations between Iran and Oman on the Strait of Hormuz, saying that the governing institutions, including the Foreign Ministry and the Supreme National Security Council, are fully coordinated with the Parliament.
He said the parliament's draft bill on managing the Strait of Hormuz is currently being reviewed, in the presence of the diplomatic apparatus, stressing that close communication and consultation would certainly help advance national interests.
Baqaei added that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had a very useful and valuable meeting with members of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of the Parliament on the day to discuss and review a wide range of issues.
Legal pursuit of US crimes
The Foreign Ministry spokesperson also referred to documents on the US crimes, including the use of banned weapons in the bombing of Lamerd, saying the file has been delivered to international relevant authorities.
He said the legal pursuit of the crimes committed by the US and the Israeli regime against Iran in the past year is also on the agenda of a joint team from the Foreign Ministry and Judiciary, but the actions first require domestic trials before raising the issue in international courts and authorities.
Baqaei also pointed to the process of documentation by the Ministry of Health regarding the inhumane crime and the use of prohibited weapons by the United States, saying Iran has already reflected this to human rights authorities and relevant international institutions and will follow up seriously.
No negotiations held with the United States
In response to a question about talks with the United States, Baqaei said he himself and even Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi have clarified numerously that there were no negotiations with Washington.
According to him, every negotiation conducted by the Foreign Ministry is under the supervision of the Supreme National Security Council, and a report on all processes is presented based on the instructions issued by the higher authorities.
Of course, exchanging messages through mediators on current issues is a bit natural, but the next step will depend on the circumstances. Currently, Iran is focused on negotiations with Oman to determine the shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz.
Managing Strait of Hormuz
In response to a question about the shipping route in the Strait of Hormuz, Baqaei clarified speculations about the northern and southern routes and the possible middle one if an understanding is reached between Iran and Oman.
He said that the Islamabad MoU, which was violated by the US, has clearly stipulated Iran's role and responsibility for the future management of the Strait of Hormuz, including ensuring its security.
This issue will continue to be handled in the same way, Baqaei said, adding that the northern and southern routes will, of course, become the middle route for safe maritime passage that the two countries - Iran and Oman - would agree on as coastal states.
Baqaei made it clear, however, that the southern route had never been permitted and safe, and that the fire of war that flared up again last month was the breach of promise by the US and its insistence on opening an unsafe and unauthorized route, in complete violation of the MoU.
Decision-making is within a set framework
Responding to a question about whether the latest changes in the Supreme National Security Council affect the negotiations and possible decisions on Iran's foreign policy, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson said that institutions, not individuals, make decisions on important issues related to national interests. Decision-making and policy are carried out within a set framework, he emphasized.
Baqaei also congratulated Mohsen Rezaei and wished him success in the appointment as the new secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), stressing that the Foreign Ministry, as in the past, will make every effort in full coordination with the SNSC to advance the interests and concerns of the Iranian nation.
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