On June 22, Ghalibaf spoke to Al Jazeera after returning from negotiations with the United States in Switzerland. He assessed that the negotiation team successfully led to the lifting of maritime blockades through diplomatic means, asserting, "The management of the Hormuz Strait will never return to the situation before the war."
He added, "We have distrusted the Americans, we still distrust them, and it is rational to continue this distrust." He emphasized, "If we had intended to resolve this through military means, it would have naturally led to war and caused damage. However, as you have seen, the blockade was lifted overnight."
Ghalibaf's remarks suggest that Iran intends to maintain a degree of influence over navigation management and security protocols even after the reopening of the Hormuz Strait. Reuters reported that Ghalibaf also announced the establishment of communication channels to ensure the safe passage of vessels.
He criticized the Israeli government, referring to it as a 'Zionist regime,' and accused it of strongly opposing the negotiation process. Ghalibaf claimed that Israel views the current negotiations as a threat to its security and is attempting to obstruct them.
Following high-level talks in Switzerland, the United States and Iran are continuing discussions regarding the normalization of navigation in the Hormuz Strait, the release of frozen assets, and nuclear inspections.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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