US informed Tehran of its rejection to any changes in Strait of Hormuz: Al Arabiya sources

The US has sent Iran clear messages to Iran particularly regarding the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, Al Arabiya sources said on Thursday after indirect talks between the two countries concluded in Doha.

The US, the sources said, informed Iran of its rejection to any changes in the current status quo in the Strait of Hormuz.

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Washington told Tehran that any change would be considered a violation to the agreement, the sources added, noting that the US considers Iran’s attitude and approach towards the situation in Hormuz as the first test towards its commitment to the deal.

The US is closely monitoring Iranian movement in the strategic strait, the sources added, noting that Tehran was informed that any progress with regrads to it frozen funds remained conditional on its full compliance with the memorandum of understanding.

This comes as Iran said on Thursday that any US interference in the Strait of Hormuz would trigger a "decisive and rapid" response, adding that the continued presence of US air assets across the waterway endangered regional security, state media reported.

Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, which coordinates Iran’s armed forces operations, said all tanker and commercial vessels must follow routes designated by Tehran for safe passage through the strait, adding that deviations or failure to comply with navigation protocols would face an immediate response.

The next indirect US-Iran talks will come after the late Iranian supreme leader’s funeral, mediators said Thursday, as diplomacy inches ahead on ending the Middle East war.

A senior source told Al Arabiya that the next round of talks will take place on July 18.

The interim deal was agreed to reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz and end hostilities, but major questions still need to be tackled in talks, including Iran’s nuclear program.

With agencies

Read more: ‘Positive progress’ in US-Iran indirect talks in Doha: Qatar