Iran has warned that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the United States accepts Tehran’s demands, insisting that the standoff cannot be resolved through military action.
The Islamic Republic says Washington must meet seven conditions outlined in an agreement reached in June. Tehran has stressed that its position is “completely clear and firm.”
The closure of the crucial Persian Gulf passage has sent global oil prices sharply higher. Fuel shortages pushed the price of diesel above £2 per litre in the UK for the first time last week.
Amid growing pressure from US President Donald Trump and concern over escalating energy costs, G7 leaders agreed on Friday to release 100 million barrels of diesel and crude oil from emergency reserves.
Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said today that the strait would stay shut until Washington agrees to Tehran’s terms.
“The Americans, who say something different in the media, have recently put forward proposals through a mediator,” Qalibaf said.
“But they must understand that the period of delaying the process and imposing one-sided demands is over.”
“The position of the Islamic Republic of Iran is completely clear and firm, and the Strait of Hormuz will not be reopened until our seven conditions, based on the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, are fulfilled.”
Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said the US had recently presented proposals through a mediator, despite making different statements publicly (file image)
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also said there was “no military solution” to the conflict.
“If our enemies once again choose military confrontation, our response will be stronger than before, and we will defend ourselves with even greater force,” he said.
“There is no military solution, nor is there any solution based on imposing further sanctions.”
Iran moved to assert control over the strategic shipping route after the war began and has since attacked vessels attempting to pass through without its approval.
Tehran had previously offered to reopen the strait and resume nuclear negotiations in return for several US concessions, including the removal of a naval blockade around Iranian ports.
In late September, Trump told reporters that Iran was desperate to reopen the waterway because it was “losing so badly.” He also confirmed that he had rejected the country’s latest ceasefire proposal.
Trump described Iran’s offer as “unacceptable,” claiming Tehran wanted an agreement “because they’re dying” and had “no money coming in.”
The US president said Washington was enforcing the “greatest blockade ever in military history” and claimed Iran was seeking a deal that would reopen the strait “immediately because they’re losing so badly.”
Trump said the US was imposing the “greatest blockade ever in military history” and claimed Iran wanted an immediate agreement to reopen the strait because it was suffering major losses
Trump further asserted that the US was “winning tremendously” and had “total control” of the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s traded oil passed each day before the war with Iran.
“Because they get their money from the Hormuz Strait, so they outsmarted themselves,” Trump said.
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The President told aides that he expected to continue bombing Iran after the midterms in November.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had said the deal’s first steps would take roughly four to five days.
Under the suggested proposal, the strait would open on the sixth day. Talks with the US would resume on the final day of the deal.
But Trump warned during his address to the United Nations General Assembly that he could ‘annihilate’ Iran if a deal was not found to end the near-seven-month war.
‘Will a deal be made with Iran that lets them rebuild and create a far greater country than it ever was before? Maybe one of the greatest in the Middle East or even the world?’ Trump said.
‘Or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly, never giving them a chance to kill and destroy people and countries again?’ he added.
The US has not struck Iran since September 1.
G7 countries including Britain, France and Germany said they would release up to 100 million barrels starting immediately after the US threatened a diesel export ban.
European leaders had sought to defy the President’s demands over fears the continent could be left exposed to diesel price rises this winter if the Iran war drags on.
But after a meeting of G7 leaders, European countries gave in to Trump’s demands, with experts claiming the White House had ‘bullied’ them into acting.
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband stood in for Andy Burnham on the call with world leaders, while the Prime Minister attended his father’s funeral.
Mr Miliband said: ‘G7 members have agreed co-ordinated measures to stabilise energy supplies, build resilience in supply chains and shield households and businesses from price shocks.’
There have been global shortages of diesel since the US launched its war with Iran in February. Vladimir Putin has banned exports following a series of Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries, while China has also imposed export restrictions in response.
Trump demanded that Europe release diesel reserves into the market to lower fuel prices before US midterm elections next month. He had threatened to impose a US export ban that would risk further shortages if Europe didn’t act.
The threat of a diesel ban has seen prices surge and triggered panic in Whitehall, where officials have warned that the UK has as little as 40 days’ supply in reserve.
The average cost of diesel in Britain has surged by more than 40 per cent since the start of the US-Iran war and surpassed £2 on Friday. A litre of diesel is now on average 57.6p more expensive than on February 28 this year, when it cost 142.38p.
A Government source said: ‘The fact that we have these warnings from the US at the same time as ongoing disruption in the Strait of Hormuz and the Houthis trying to shut down exports via the Red Sea is pretty unhelpful and very concerning.’
Another source said officials were already working on contingency plans for potential diesel rationing if the US ban goes ahead and the Middle East crisis remains unresolved.
Britain is particularly exposed to shocks in diesel prices with its 40-day reserve and reliance on the US for a quarter of its imports. By comparison, the EU has about 80 days supply and France and Germany more than 200 days.