Tehran assures safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz at the United Nations

Tehran will remain committed to implementing the ceasefire agreement and conditions related to the Strait of Hormuz if the United States fulfils its obligations under the understanding, Iran’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, has said.

Speaking at a meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Thursday, Iravani said that under the agreement Iran would make its “utmost efforts” for 60 days to ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. No transit fees would be imposed during this period, he added.

He said the measures also include the removal of military and technical obstacles along shipping routes and the immediate resumption of commercial maritime traffic.

Iravani further said Iran expects to complete mine-clearing operations in the Strait of Hormuz within the next 30 days.

Rejecting allegations raised by the United States at the Security Council meeting, he described them as baseless.

He said that at a time when technical talks are under way with mediation by Pakistan and Qatar to implement the Islamabad memorandum of understanding, the Security Council should not take any steps that could undermine ongoing diplomatic efforts.

Iravani accused the US representative of repeatedly presenting “false and misleading information” about Iran.

He also claimed that during the course of diplomatic talks, the United States, in coordination with Israel, launched “two acts of aggression” against Iran, which he described as violations of the United Nations Charter and international law.

Ahead of the burial of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Tehran decided to temporarily suspend diplomatic talks, prompting Iran’s negotiating team to leave Qatar on Thursday. Khamenei was killed in late February in attacks by the United States and Israel.  (Source: Middle East Monitor)