Bagheri: The Strait of Hormuz will never return to its pre‑war state
Tehran says negotiations with Oman are not about simply reopening the strait and vows not to yield to outside pressure.
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Bagheri said on August 3, 2026, that the Strait of Hormuz will never return to the situation that existed before the war, signalling a firm and potentially prolonged change to one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints.
Bagheri framed the current status of the waterway as a consequence of hostile acts by external powers and stressed that Tehran will not be pressured into reversing its position. He said the closure of the Strait of Hormuz was the result, as he put it, of “the American sabotage and maritime blockade of Iran.”
Talks with Oman not about reopening or closing, Bagheri says
The spokesman also dismissed claims that ongoing discussions between Iran and Oman concern the simple opening or closing of the passage. “The talks between Iran and Oman about the Strait of Hormuz have nothing to do with the opening or the closing of that route,” he said, characterising the contacts as focused on other matters tied to national interests.
Bagheri added: “The Islamic Republic of Iran acts in accordance with the country’s interests and will not change its decision under the influence of threats and intimidation from others,” underlining Tehran’s stated unwillingness to yield to external pressure.
Separately, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said yesterday that negotiations with Oman on the management of the Strait of Hormuz are in their final phase. The comments from both officials suggest a continued high level of diplomatic activity around the strait, even as Tehran signals that its overall stance has hardened.
Photo: press material from the event
