Araghchi says Strait of Hormuz management will never return to pre-war era

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi stated that the management of the Strait of Hormuz will never return to the pre-war era, emphasizing that fundamental and strategic changes have taken place in West Asia. He made these remarks during the inauguration ceremony of the documentation center and museum of martyred diplomat Kamal Kharrazi, who was assassinated in a terrorist US-Israeli strike earlier this year. Araghchi noted that nothing will be the same as it was before the 40-day imposed war, also known as the Ramadan war.

Araghchi explained that for decades the Strait of Hormuz remained open, and neither Iran nor Oman, the two coastal states bordering the waterway, imposed any restrictions on maritime traffic. On the contrary, both countries helped ensure security and safety and protect the marine environment. However, he added, the current war has changed everything, and new realities have emerged. The shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz will no longer be the same as before, nor will the Strait be managed as it was in the past.

Iran restricted transit through the Strait of Hormuz in response to what it called the criminal US-Israeli aggression that began on February 28. On June 17, Tehran and Washington signed a Pakistan-brokered Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), whose Article 5 places responsibility for reopening and managing the Strait squarely in Iran’s hands. However, Washington attempted to undermine Iran’s sovereignty over the Strait and imposed a naval blockade in violation of the war-ending deal, prompting Tehran to declare the vital global energy chokepoint closed to all traffic.

In his remarks, the foreign minister also said that if the aggressors have any sense of reason, they will not try another military assault against the Iranian nation, noting, “They’ve tried twice, and they’ve seen the results.” The US and Israel waged their first war against Iran, which lasted 12 days, in June 2025. Their second aggression began on February 28, 2026, and came to a halt in early April after 40 days. In both wars, Iran’s resistance and successful retaliatory operations forced the aggressors to accept a ceasefire.

Araghchi stressed that regional security must be ensured by the countries of the region themselves, without relying on or requiring the presence of foreign forces. Iran and the regional states should live together in peace, without foreign interference, he said. “This is the only way to achieve peace, security, and stability in our region.” Iran maintains relations with all the Persian Gulf countries while working to reach a shared understanding on a new regional security framework, he continued.

“Our neighborliness policy is based on peaceful coexistence with our neighbors… Another important point is that, in our view, all regional issues are interconnected. It is not possible to have war and conflict in one part of the region while expecting peace and calm in another.” He added that in all negotiations with the US side, mediated by Pakistan, Qatar and other friendly countries, Iran has emphasized that any end to the war must encompass all fronts and bring an end to hostilities on every front. Otherwise, stability in the region will not be achieved. The report by Mehr News added that the ceremony was held to honor Kamal Kharrazi, a martyred diplomat.