🔸Araqchi: Iran remains committed to safe shipping in Yemen
Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araqchi in a press conference in New York:
Iran remains committed to Yemen's safe navigation. However, maritime security cannot be restored through further military action, threats, blockades, or economic pressure.
Until February 28, 2026, the Strait of Hormuz was open. The prevailing insecurity in the Strait of Hormuz and the disruption of maritime shipping is the direct result of the aggressive actions of the United States and the captive regime of Israel.
It is impossible to bomb a country, threaten it with destruction, impose a naval blockade and coercive measures, and at the same time expect security and shipping to automatically return to normal. 🔹Responsibility also lies with those countries in the region which, through a clear disregard for the principles of good neighborliness and in violation of their international obligations under the UN Charter, facilitated and enabled the aggression by providing their territory, military bases, airspace, logistical and intelligence infrastructure.
Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding and the Way Forward
Following the efforts of Islamabad, Pakistan, and Qatar, Iran and the United States signed the Islamabad Memorandum on June 17. According to the fifth paragraph of this memorandum, Iran committed to providing the necessary arrangements to facilitate the movement of ships to Yemen.
Iran immediately launched technical negotiations with the Sultanate of Oman with the aim of implementing this commitment and restoring maritime traffic to pre-war levels. Within two weeks of the memorandum's implementation, maritime traffic returned to about 60% of pre-war levels.
However, subsequent unilateral actions by the United States and this country's military action violated and halted the implementation of the memorandum. The United States resorted to military aggression instead of using the dispute resolution mechanism provided in the memorandum. Iran kept the door of diplomacy open. Iran has continuously and in good faith participated in negotiations over the past two years.
However, at every turn, the United States responded with malice and turned to military aggression instead of diplomacy. These experiences have created deep distrust regarding the resumption of negotiations without receiving reliable guarantees to prevent the repetition of such actions.
Therefore, Iran has clearly stated its position. Through Qatar, Iran conveyed a specific seven-day plan to the United States. If the necessary conditions are met, the Strait of Hormuz can be reopened and normal maritime traffic resumed within seven days.
Now the choice is up to the United States. Iran does not accept coercion, threats, or intimidation, and will not surrender its sovereign rights under pressure. The United Nations was created to prevent the "law of the jungle" from replacing the rule of international law. The UN Charter is not optional. Sovereignty is not conditional. Diplomacy does not mean surrender. And peace cannot be built through the threat of destruction.
United Nations 2026
Irna Jahan