Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
Araghchi: US opening separate route in Hormuz violates MoU
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- Araghchi stated that Article 5 of MoU explicitly grants Iran sole authority over transit mechanisms in Strait of Hormuz.
- He accused Washington of violating terms by unilaterally opening separate transit routes without consulting Tehran.
- Araghchi noted that direct communication lines established during Switzerland talks were meant to prevent misunderstandings.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the United States of violating the terms of the bilateral memorandum of understanding (MoU), asserting that Tehran holds sole authority over transit protocols in the Strait of Hormuz under the agreed framework.
"Article 5 of the memorandum of understanding is clear and states that Iran is the entity that determines the transit mechanism for Hormuz," Araghchi stated, adding that Washington's decision to open a separate transit route directly contradicts the agreement's terms.
Direct communication lines
According to Araghchi, any modifications or additions of maritime corridors through the Strait of Hormuz required prior consultations with Tehran to comply with Article 5 provisions.
He noted that following initial maritime friction, negotiators had agreed during talks in Switzerland to open a direct hotline aimed at avoiding miscalculations and operational misunderstandings.
However, Araghchi stated that recent developments proved the dispute extended beyond simple misunderstandings.
He claimed the US side remained insistent on establishing alternative transit routes, charging that Washington actively pushed the situation toward escalation and brought the diplomatic understanding to its current state through repeated agreement violations.
