GENEVA, June 23 (Xinhua) — Iran’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office at Geneva, Ali Bahreini, said on the 23rd that the Strait of Hormuz is fully open to commercial vessels and no fees are charged.
In response to questions from the United Nations Correspondents Association in Geneva regarding the negotiations between Iran and the United States, Bahreini stated that the Strait of Hormuz is now open for a period of 60 days, during which no fees will be charged. Additionally, the two sides have decided to establish a communication mechanism on this issue to monitor and resolve any potential problems. After 60 days, the specific status of the strait’s opening will be determined by the outcome of negotiations between Iran and the United States.
Negotiators from Iran and the United States concluded the first round of talks on the implementation of the memorandum of understanding signed last week in Bergün, Switzerland, on the 22nd.
Bahreini stated that according to this memorandum, the United States should unfreeze Iran’s assets, and Iran should have full rights to use its frozen assets abroad. “Iran is the only country entitled to decide how to dispose of these assets, and no other country or entity has the right to interfere,” he said.
Bahreini refuted the U.S. claim that Iran had agreed to invite International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors back into Iran for verification, pointing out that discussions on Iran’s nuclear activities will take place in the next phase.
“There is no such decision yet, not even such discussions,” Bahreini said. “Therefore, any news suggesting that Iran may allow inspectors to enter is incorrect.”
