The Iranian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Monday evening that, according to the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the mine clearance work in the Strait of Hormuz will be carried out by Iran alone, and Iran will not cooperate with any other country on this matter.
French President Emmanuel Macron said earlier on Monday that France and Oman have agreed to work jointly with partners to clear mines in the Strait of Hormuz to secure maritime routes.
Macron made the remarks on social media platform X after holding talks with Omani Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, who is on his first official visit to France.
The Iranian statement said that the current regional situation is sensitive and complex, and that Iran strongly advised France not to further complicate the situation with "provocative actions".
The announcements of the two sides came amid heightened maritime security concerns through the Strait of Hormuz.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz had gradually resumed after the United States and Iran reached a MoU, prompting the U.S.-led Joint Maritime Information Center on June 18 to lower the maritime threat level in nearby waters to moderate.
However, a container ship and an oil tanker were attacked in nearby waters on Thursday and Saturday last week, respectively.
The U.S. Central Command said last Friday that U.S. forces had struck Iranian targets in response to an attack on a commercial vessel near the Strait of Hormuz a day earlier.
Iran to conduct mine clearance in Hormuz Strait alone, advising France not to meddle
Iran to conduct mine clearance in Hormuz Strait alone, advising France not to meddle
With tensions resurfacing barely two weeks after the United States and Iran signed a peace memorandum of understanding (MoU), an Iranian political expert has warned the U.S. is adopting a contradictory posture -- pursuing negotiations while continuing military pressure.
Fresh clashes have raised serious doubts about the durability of the fragile truce, with both sides accusing each other of violations.
The U.S. conducted strikes on Iranian targets on Friday and Saturday, citing "continued Iranian aggression against commercial shipping" in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran responded by striking U.S. military positions in the region.
During an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN), Foad Izadi, an associate professor at the University of Tehran, argued that Iran's actions in the Strait of Hormuz are in line with the MoU, contrary to U.S. accusations.
"Article 1 is very clear that a ceasefire means ceasing fire. The United States has violated that with regard to Iran. The excuse they have is that Iran is trying to manage the Strait of Hormuz in terms of the passage of ships. But apparently, they have not read Article 5, because based on Article 5 of the MoU, that is what Iran is supposed to do, at least for the next 60 days. And the management of the Strait of Hormuz is going to be decided between the two coastal states. That is Iran and Oman," he said.
Izadi warned that the U.S. actions undermine the possibility of genuine diplomacy, though Iran keeps that on the table.
"Diplomacy can work if the United States wants it to work. If they want to have these talks to keep oil prices low, because if these talks break down, it may affect oil prices. They don't want to do that. They want to keep oil prices low, and they want to attack Iran at the same time, and they don't want to do what they are supposed to do under the agreement. You see, they are already violating Articles 1 and 5 of the agreement. So they want to have it both ways. They want to have these negotiations, but they don't want to engage these negotiations seriously, and they are preparing for their next attack. This is something that Iranian officials realize," he said.
Iranian expert warns US violations undermine fragile ceasefire with Iran
Iranian expert warns US violations undermine fragile ceasefire with Iran
