Iran could open Strait of Hormuz in a month if terms agreed

….Says possible return to war unlikely
By Nkiruka Nnorom with agency report

There’s an indication that Tehran would restore shipping through the Strait of Hormuz to pre-war levels within a month in a framework deal with the U.S that would see Washington withdraw its forces from Iran’s vicinity, Iranian state TV has reported.

The state TV report was the latest signal of possible progress towards a deal, although publicly Tehran and Washington have outlined positions starkly at odds and the potential terms outlined by the broadcaster did not appease all U.S demands.

The state television reported yesterday that US would also end its naval blockade of Iranian shipping, in line with letters of a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, being negotiated between the two sides to end the over three month war.

The agency said it had obtained an unofficial draft of the MOU though it was not final and might not be agreed.

‘’The issue of U.S. troops in the region also needs further discussion,’’ the TV report said without being more specific.

U.S, however, denied the report, saying it was complete fabrication in a White House statement on social media with President Donald Trump saying that the Strait would be open to everyone and not controlled by any country under any deal reached with Iran.

He added that there were no discussions about easing sanctions on Tehran.

“Nobody should believe what Iranian state media is putting out,” the White House said on X.
Iran’s government did not comment.

Meanwhile, the Revolutionary Guard said a renewed war with the United States was unlikely due to the “enemy’s weakness” but promised to make Iran’s southern territory a graveyard for aggressors.

“The possibility of war is low because of the enemy’s weakness, the armed forces are lying in wait with full magazines,” senior Iranian Revolutionary Guards official, Mohammad Akbarzadeh, said.

Akbarzadeh warned that Iran’s military would turn the area along its coastline “into a graveyard for aggressors”, in quotes carried by the Tasnim news agency.

Tehran’s intelligence ministry, meanwhile, said the US and Israel were still seeking to overthrow the Islamic republic and partition Iran, citing evidence of efforts to foment division and carry out sabotage missions.
Iran and the US have been engaged in a war of words for weeks as they try to negotiate a deal, with mediation efforts led by Pakistan.

Neither side appears ready to compromise on the key sticking points, which include the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear programme.

Yesterday, the Revolutionary Guards’ navy insisted that only ships willing to abide by Iranian order would be allowed to pass through the waterway.

US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, had said on Tuesday that a peace deal remained within reach, but that the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened “one way or the other”.

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