Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of Iran’s parliament and its lead negotiator, has stated that the Strait of Hormuz will never return to its status as it existed prior to the current US-Israel war. Speaking in an exclusive interview, Ghalibaf indicated that Iran and Oman have established an understanding to oversee the vital waterway, a move integrated into Tehran’s seven-point proposal aimed at concluding the eight-month conflict.
Asserting regional control, Ghalibaf argued that the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea does not apply to the strait. He insisted that the area does not constitute international waters, stating that regulations within the strait are exclusively governed by the two littoral states bordering it.
Tehran has relayed its seven specific conditions for peace negotiations to the United States through a Qatari mediator.
According to Ghalibaf, the proposal requires the lifting of the US-imposed naval blockade and sanctions, the release of frozen Iranian assets, the cessation of hostilities across all fronts, and an official declaration that the war has ended.
These requirements, which were part of an Islamabad memorandum of understanding signed in June, must be implemented before formal talks can proceed.
“The ball is now in the American court,” Ghalibaf said, noting that while an agreement is theoretically possible, a profound lack of trust in Washington remains the primary obstacle. He suggested that if the US limits its actions to agreed terms and avoids excessive demands or provocative behavior, a path to peace exists. He also noted that US officials had previously requested that Russian President Vladimir Putin mediate direct negotiations during his visit to Moscow. “If America limits itself to what has been agreed upon without making excessive demands or engaging in behaviour that breeds distrust, then, naturally, reaching an agreement is possible,” he said.
Addressing the broader conflict, Ghalibaf warned that any new US attacks would likely result in another defeat for President Donald Trump, especially given anticipated political pressure from the incoming Congress in January. He added that Iran is seeking to move beyond the current state of “no war and no peace” by prioritizing sustainable deterrent capabilities, including military strength.
Regarding the ongoing war in Yemen, Ghalibaf emphasized that external parties should not interfere in the conflict between the Saudi-backed government and the Houthi movement, also known as Ansar Allah. However, he clarified that Iran would be willing to assist in conflict resolution if specifically requested by both the Yemeni government and Saudi Arabia. Iran had previously attempted to facilitate dialogue between the two sides in October following a surge in attacks on the kingdom. “If both the government in Yemen and Saudi Arabia were to ask for our help, we would certainly offer our assistance to help resolve their conflict,” he said.
