Ghalibaf: Strait of Hormuz Can’t Reopen as Ceasefire Violations Persist

Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf has emphatically stated that the Strait of Hormuz will not be reopened under the current conditions, citing ongoing violations of the ceasefire and continued hostilities between Tehran and the United States. Ghalibaf, who is also one of Iran’s chief negotiators in the fragile talks aimed at ending the broader regional conflict, said that although some progress has been made in dialogue with Washington, major gaps and unresolved issues remain, and the prospect of a final settlement is still distant.

He accused the United States of breaching the ceasefire framework, particularly by maintaining a naval blockade of Iranian ports and conducting actions such as mine-clearing operations that Tehran views as hostile. According to Ghalibaf, these moves undermine the ceasefire and make the safe and unrestricted reopening of the Strait of Hormuz impossible for now.

Ghalibaf stressed that Iran exercises control over the strategic waterway and that maritime passage will depend on Tehran’s terms, noting that it would be unrealistic to expect others to transit the strait freely if Iran itself cannot do so. He described U.S. efforts to blockade ports and influence maritime access as misguided and said that until key conditions — such as the lifting of the blockade and comprehensive implementation of ceasefire terms — are met, normal shipping through Hormuz cannot resume.

His comments reflect deep skepticism within Tehran about the U.S. negotiation stance and underscore how the fate of one of the world’s most vital shipping corridors is tightly bound to the broader ceasefire’s success or failure.