Esmaeil Baghaei, spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry of the Islamic Republic, has conditioned the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz on the cessation of what he termed “illegal U.S. actions.” He also cited the “lifting of the naval blockade” and “compensation for damages inflicted on Iran” as additional demands by the Islamic Republic for reopening this vital waterway.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, August 10, Baghaei stated: “The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is a direct consequence of U.S. and Israeli strikes, as well as the use of regional bases against Iran.”
According to Baghaei, ongoing talks between Iran and Oman constitute a purely bilateral framework for establishing safe international shipping routes and remain separate from political disputes.
Citing UN General Assembly Resolution 3314, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson characterized the U.S. naval blockade of Iran as an “act of aggression,” warning that as long as hostile behavior continues, conditions will not be ripe for guaranteeing the waterway’s security.
Responding to a query on whether diplomacy could lift the naval blockade, Baghaei noted: “A naval blockade is not a diplomatic act that can be lifted through diplomacy alone.” He emphasized that the Islamic Republic must counter U.S. actions “with authority, military strength, and alongside it, diplomacy.”
Baghaei confirmed that no direct negotiations are currently taking place between Tehran and Washington, with communications strictly limited to indirect messages relayed through intermediaries regarding ongoing developments.
In reaction to remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding quiet “lights-out” talks with Tehran and his comparison of negotiations to a chess match, Baghaei replied: “Whether with lights off or lights on, Iranians are renowned chess players.”
Regarding the impact of Mohsen Rezaei’s appointment as Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) on diplomatic negotiations, Baghaei asserted that “policymaking and decision-making on key national matters, including negotiations,” occur within a broader institutional framework. He added that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to operate “in full coordination” with the SNSC.
Turning to the defense pact recently concluded between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, the spokesperson remarked that regional states have learned over the past three years that “security is not a commodity to be purchased from false brokers.”
When asked about the possibility of Iran joining the defense pact, Baghaei noted that “Tehran had previously put forward proposals for regional security mechanisms based on local cooperation.” However, he provided no explicit answer regarding whether Iran intends or desires to join the agreement, merely asserting that joint proposals remain active and can be updated to reflect regional shifts while advocating for “collective security.”
Baghaei also announced that invitations had been received for Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Speaker of Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf to visit Pakistan, stating that these trips would take place “at an appropriate time.”
Furthermore, he accused the Kuwaiti government of placing its territory at the disposal of the United States for “aggressive actions” against Iran. Baghaei noted that Kuwait has yet to grant consular access to Iranian nationals and described the closure of the Iranian school in Kuwait as an act of “retaliation” against students.
Regarding Iran’s participation in the upcoming UN General Assembly session, Baghaei stated that a final decision on the composition and level of the Iranian delegation has not yet been made.
Finally, addressing the 2018 Caspian Sea Legal Convention signed by the five littoral states, Baghaei confirmed that, after years of review, the document has been forwarded to the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Parliament), where final approval remains at the legislature’s discretion.