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Iranian Parliament Speaker Says Strait of Hormuz Will Stay Closed Until U.S. Meets Terms of “Defunct” Islamabad Memorandum
The Apex Times

THE APEX TIMES

International/The Apex Times/Aug 18, 8:58 AM EDT

Iranian Parliament Speaker Says Strait of Hormuz Will Stay Closed Until U.S. Meets Terms of “Defunct” Islamabad Memorandum

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf reiterated that Iranian forces will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz until the United States fulfills obligations he described as part of an Islamabad memorandum of understanding that Iran’s parliament considers defunct.

By The Apex Times Newsroom2 min readAI-assisted Apex article

Iran’s parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Tuesday that Iranian forces will keep the Strait of Hormuz closed until the United States fulfills its obligations under what he called a defunct Islamabad memorandum of understanding. Ghalibaf’s remarks, reported by The Washington Times, were framed as a continued condition for reopening the maritime chokepoint used by a large volume of international shipping and energy trade.

Speaking in his role as the head of Iran’s parliament, Ghalibaf reiterated that the Islamic Republic’s posture on the strait is tied to Washington’s compliance with the terms he referenced. The statement did not specify a timeline or detail what steps the United States would need to take to satisfy Iran’s stated requirement.

The Iranian speaker’s comments come amid ongoing concerns from regional and international officials about disruption risks in and around the Strait of Hormuz, which sits between Iran and Oman and remains central to the security calculus of states that rely on uninterrupted maritime transit. Iranian officials have repeatedly linked their posture to broader negotiations and obligations, and Ghalibaf’s Tuesday statement again made the U.S. role the focal point.

Ghalibaf characterized the Islamabad memorandum of understanding as having become defunct, suggesting Iran no longer views the arrangement as standing in its original form. Even so, his remarks emphasized that Iranian forces will continue to enforce a closure until the United States meets what Iran describes as obligations associated with that framework, according to the report.

The statement indicates that Iran’s decision on reopening is not described as automatic or time-bound, but conditional on U.S. action. That structure, if maintained, would keep diplomatic leverage concentrated on Washington and could limit the space for near-term understandings focused only on incident management rather than resumption of full shipping access.

A sustained closure, or even intermittent restrictions, would likely affect commercial planning for shipping operators and fuel distribution, given how many logistical routes depend on predictability in passage through the area. While the report did not provide specific measures or operational timelines, the speaker’s stated condition points to continued uncertainty for maritime traffic.

The next steps depend on whether the United States responds by disputing the characterization of the Islamabad memorandum or by outlining any steps it believes it has already taken. If Iranian officials maintain the closure condition publicly, further statements from both sides would be expected to clarify whether any compliance assessment can be agreed and what verification, if any, would satisfy Iran’s parliament leadership.

Why It Matters

  • The Strait of Hormuz status is central to international maritime transit and energy logistics, so an announced ongoing closure condition can increase uncertainty for shipping and supply chains.
  • Iran’s public linkage of the closure to U.S. compliance keeps diplomatic leverage focused on Washington and can narrow the scope for smaller, temporary arrangements.
  • By describing the memorandum as defunct while still insisting on U.S. obligations, Iran indicates that it may treat negotiation frameworks as both invalid in form and binding in substance.
  • If the closure remains in place, international stakeholders may face renewed pressure for security coordination and contingency planning.
  • The next public clarification from both sides would likely determine whether the condition can be satisfied through specific steps or whether the dispute escalates.

Sources

Key Facts

  • Iranian parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Tuesday that Iranian forces will keep the Strait of Hormuz closed.
  • Ghalibaf said reopening will occur only after the United States fulfills obligations under an Islamabad memorandum of understanding.
  • He described the Islamabad memorandum as “defunct,” according to the report.
  • The report attributes the statement to Ghalibaf in his capacity as the head of Iran’s parliament.
  • The account frames the U.S. obligations as the deciding factor for any change in the strait’s status.