Speaking in a televised interview on Tuesday night, Ghalibaf said the temporary waiver on transit charges was agreed at the request of Persian Gulf littoral states after shipping disruptions caused by the recent conflict and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

“The services provided by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz will be offered free of charge for 60 days only,” he said, adding that Iran had also committed to clearing mines from the waterway within 30 days.

Ghalibaf, who heads Iran’s negotiating team in talks with Washington, stated that the 14-point memorandum of understanding signed between Iran and the United States had moved beyond the negotiation phase and entered implementation.

He said the agreement established a 60-day framework for implementing key provisions, which could be extended by mutual consent while talks continue toward a final settlement and the removal of sanctions on Iran.

According to Ghalibaf, Article 5 of the memorandum stipulates that Iran and Oman will jointly determine the future administration and maritime services of the Strait of Hormuz in accordance with international law and the sovereign rights of the littoral states.

“There is no circumstance under which we would compromise on this matter,” he said.

“These are our territorial waters, and Iran’s authority and sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz are definitive and unquestionable.”

Ceasefire violations

The senior Iranian official said recent incidents in the Persian Gulf constituted violations of the ceasefire agreement and warned that Tehran would respond to any breaches.

“The events that have taken place in the Persian Gulf in recent days are violations of the ceasefire agreement, and we will respond accordingly,” he said, adding that Iran remained committed to both diplomacy and military preparedness.

Ghalibaf said a political communication channel, rather than a military one, had been established between Iran and the United States to address issues related to the Strait of Hormuz, with Iran’s Foreign Ministry representing Tehran.

Clashes in Lebanon

He also claimed that the United States had committed under the memorandum to ending hostilities in Lebanon, ensuring Israeli military operations cease, facilitating the return of displaced people and restoring Lebanese sovereignty over its territory.

“The Zionist regime strongly opposed this memorandum because it is a document of American and Israeli defeat,” Ghalibaf said, adding that Iran, the United States and Lebanon had agreed to establish a joint committee to monitor implementation of the agreement.

On sanctions relief, Ghalibaf said recent US measures had effectively lifted restrictions on Iranian oil exports, banking transactions, insurance and shipping, allowing Tehran to sell crude and petrochemical products under normal market conditions.

Iranian oil sale

“For the first time, the licence appeared on the OFAC website last week,” he said.

“Iranian oil is now being sold at international benchmark prices rather than at discounts.”

He said Iran had exported more than 40 million barrels of oil since the maritime blockade was lifted in mid-June, compared with no exports during the preceding 50 to 60 days.

Ghalibaf also said that under the new arrangement, Iran expected to gain access to $12 billion of its estimated $24 billion in frozen assets held abroad, allowing the Central Bank to conduct international transactions and finance imports.

Authority over released funds

He rejected reports that the released funds would be restricted to purchases from US farmers, saying Iran would have full discretion over their use.

Addressing Iran’s military and nuclear programmes, Ghalibaf reiterated that Tehran’s missile capabilities and offensive military power were “absolutely non-negotiable.”

“Iran’s missile capability is one of our sources of pride,” he said.

He also insisted that Iran’s right to uranium enrichment would not be compromised, while affirming Tehran’s commitment to its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and oversight by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

“Negotiation does not mean surrender,” Ghalibaf said.

Nuclear talks

“It means transferring the arena of confrontation from the battlefield to diplomacy while preserving the country’s deterrent power.”

He added that Iran would continue to pursue diplomacy where possible while remaining prepared to respond militarily if necessary.

“Wherever the language of dialogue and agreements does not work, the language of force will be used,” Ghalibaf said.

“Wherever necessary, we will fight, and wherever we can advance our interests through dialogue, we will pursue that path.”