Zhenghao New Materials

Iran's permanent representative to the United Nations office in Geneva, Ali Bahreini, said on June 23 that the Strait of Hormuz is now fully open to commercial shipping and that no fees will be charged. Speaking to the Geneva Association of United Nations Correspondents on the same day about the status of negotiations between Iran and the United States, Bahreini stated that the Strait is open for a period of 60 days, during which no tolls will be levied. In addition, the two sides have agreed to establish a communication mechanism to monitor and resolve any potential issues that may arise. After 60 days, the specific terms 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 their first round of talks on the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding signed the previous week on June 22 in Bürgenstock, Switzerland. According to Bahreini, under the Memorandum, the United States is required to unfreeze Iranian assets, and Iran retains full rights to use its assets that had been frozen abroad. "Iran is the sole authority entitled to decide how to dispose of these assets, and no other country or entity has the right to interfere," he said. Bahreini also refuted U.S. claims that Iran had agreed to invite International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors back into the country, pointing out that discussions regarding Iran's nuclear activities would be taken up at a later stage. "At present, there is no such decision, and not even such discussions have taken place," Bahreini stated. "Therefore, any reports suggesting that Iran may allow inspectors to enter are incorrect."