Iran’s Parliament Speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the Strait of Hormuz will no longer operate under its pre-war arrangements and will instead be administered by Iran, state media reported on Tuesday, following the talks between Tehran and Washington in Switzerland aimed at ending hostilities in the region.

Speaking upon his return from Switzerland, Ghalibaf described the talks as productive and said they yielded progress on several key issues, including the Strait of Hormuz, Lebanon, sanctions relief, and the release of frozen Iranian assets.

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“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,” Ghalibaf said, according to Iranian state media.

Hormuz to be managed by Iran

He reiterated the position in a separate statement, saying, “The Strait of Hormuz will be managed by Iran, in accordance with those laws and under arrangements established by Iran.”

The remarks came after Iran and the United States agreed to establish communication channels to help maintain safe passage through the strategically important waterway and reduce the risk of military incidents. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical shipping routes for oil and gas exports.

Contribution to the regional economy

Explaining the new mechanism, Ghalibaf said, “Problems may arise in the Strait of Hormuz. Therefore, we agreed to establish a center and a telephone hotline so that, during the 30-day period, if any issues occur, they can be resolved more quickly.”

“God willing, this will contribute to the prosperity of the regional economy,” he added.

The talks in Switzerland followed a period of heightened tensions in West Asia and are part of a broader memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran aimed at reducing hostilities and creating a roadmap toward a final agreement within 60 days.

Discussions covered developments in Lebanon

Ghalibaf said the discussions also covered developments in Lebanon and efforts to prevent further escalation in the region. He claimed that Iran’s participation in the talks helped avoid additional violence.

“Had we not gone to Switzerland, more blood would have been shed among Muslims and Shias in Lebanon at any moment,” he said.

‘We don’t trust Americans’: Ghalibaf

The Iranian official also emphasised Tehran’s longstanding distrust of Washington, stating, “We have never trusted the Americans; we don’t trust them now, and it is only reasonable to remain distrustful in the future.”

Release of frozen Iranian assets

Another major outcome of the negotiations, according to Ghalibaf,
involved the release of frozen Iranian assets and relief from some oil-related sanctions.

“Regarding the release of frozen assets, under Clause 11, two separate amounts of $6 billion each were to be released,” he said.

“The necessary steps had already been taken during the trip to Qatar, but the final signature had to be completed during the Switzerland trip, which has now been done.”

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADUS temporarily suspends Iran oil sanctions

The
United States on Monday temporarily suspended sanctions on Iranian oil after Vice President JD Vance said Tehran would allow United Nations nuclear inspectors to return to the country. Iranian officials have also said that easing oil restrictions and releasing frozen funds were among the achievements secured during the talks.

Ghalibaf further stressed the importance of domestic unity, saying Iran would continue to follow the direction of its leadership while pursuing negotiations and regional stability.