US-Iran War Live Updates: Iran says no commitment on Strait of Hormuz management in US MOU

Iran has dismissed a US claim that a draft memorandum of understanding (MOU) includes a commitment to transfer or alter the management of the Strait of Hormuz. According to IRNA, Tehran insists the strait’s future will be decided through regional dialogue involving Iran and Oman, rejecting any foreign influence over its control. A leaked 14-point draft framework, reported by Iranian media outlets Mehr and Iran Today, outlines a potential deal with the US. The proposal includes an immediate ceasefire across all fronts, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz within 30 days, and the suspension of sanctions on Iranian oil and petrochemical exports. It also calls for the release of $24 billion in frozen Iranian funds and a 60-day negotiation period focused on nuclear issues, sanctions relief, and economic reconstruction—excluding Iran’s missile program and support for resistance groups. Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari, commander of Iran’s IRGC Navy, reiterated Tehran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding waters. He stated that no vessel can enter the strait without Iran’s permission, with the IRGC Navy overseeing the western side and the Persian Gulf, while the Iranian Navy manages the eastern strait and northern Indian Ocean. Sayyari also condemned a US attack near Sri Lanka, claiming it killed 104 Iranian personnel aboard the Dena destroyer during a peacekeeping exercise, with 20 bodies still missing. The proposed MOU also requires the US to withdraw forces from areas near Iran and refrain from interfering in its internal affairs. Iran’s nuclear negotiations are set to begin after the MOU’s signing, though Tehran has denied any agreement on its nuclear program. Meanwhile, oil markets reacted positively to the potential deal, with crude prices dropping to a three-month low amid hopes of eased sanctions and restored energy supply routes. Sayyari further highlighted Iran’s advanced drone capabilities, deployed by both the IRGC and the Iranian Army, and criticized international silence over the Dena destroyer incident. He vowed retaliation for the deaths, framing them as unjust and emphasizing Iran’s expanding military readiness under challenging conditions.