IRNA refutes Trump's claim that the Strait of Hormuz will be fully reopened, stating that even if an agreement is reached, the strait will remain under Iranian control. While Iran may allow shipping volumes to return to pre-war levels, this would not equate to free passage—routes, timing, methods, and permits would still be determined by Iran.
The IRNA’s firm response is not a discussion about specific details of a particular agreement, but rather a definitive characterization of a major event: this means the foundation and nature of the U.S.-Iran ceasefire centered on Trump’s announced “agreement” will be fundamentally rewritten.
On May 23, Trump publicly declared the deal, posting on social media that an agreement—including the opening of the Strait of Hormuz—was “nearly finalized,” with final details soon to be unveiled. Trump framed this as a significant diplomatic victory in ending hostilities, aiming to demonstrate his ability to achieve breakthroughs both domestically and internationally.
Just hours later, on May 24, IRNA responded precisely, characterizing Trump’s statement as “far from reality,” bluntly asserting it was “incomplete” and “inconsistent with facts.”
The core of Iran’s position is not about “opening” the strait, but about “restoring management.” The routing, timing, methods, and permitting for passage through the Strait of Hormuz must be entirely under Iranian authority. Reports also suggest that passage might require payment of security and navigation fees ranging from tens of thousands to as high as $2 million. The U.S. has explicitly rejected this, with Secretary Rubio stating: “This isn’t really opening the strait at all.”
As the mouthpiece of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), IRNA’s statement reflects the stance of this key entity—the tone is more aggressive and uncompromising than that of Iran’s Foreign Ministry.
This divergence is essentially a battle over the future “rules of the game” for the Strait of Hormuz. If Trump accepts Iran’s “managed openness,” his proclaimed victory would be greatly diminished, rendering the claim of the deal being “basically negotiated” meaningless. Therefore, the U.S. will not concede.
The dispute over the Strait of Hormuz is, at its core, Iran leveraging its most critical strategic card in a pivotal negotiation with Trump. So far, Tehran has firmly held its ground: it may compromise on shipping volume, but it will never surrender actual control over the strait.
There will ultimately be a showdown between the U.S. and Iran.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1866027173441536/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.