Iran Lawmaker Says Strait of Hormuz Will Not Return to Pre-War State

Shift in Waterway Status

Iranian officials have stated that the Strait of Hormuz will not return to the status quo that existed before the war between Iran, the United States, and Israel. Ali Nikzad, the vice speaker of Iran’s parliament, declared that Tehran would not "relinquish our rights in the Strait of Hormuz" and asserted that the movement of vessels through the waterway "will not be the same as before".

Speaking during a visit to port facilities on strategic Larak Island, Nikzad reiterated that Iran will not back down from its position and that the strait "will not return to its prewar conditions". This stance follows the effective closure of the waterway to oil trade since the start of the conflict on February 28,.

Proposed Tolls and Management

Tehran has indicated a plan to formalize its control over the waterway through new legislation. According to Ali Nikzad, legislation currently before the Iranian parliament for managing the strait would designate 30 percent of collected tolls for military infrastructure, while the remaining funds would be earmarked for "economic development".

Nikzad further stated that any ship not associated with the United States or Israel may pass through the strait provided they pay a toll. This position contrasts with the international view of the strait as an international waterway that should remain open to all without the payment of tolls.

Leadership and Strategic Stance

Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, issued a statement asserting that the United States has no place in the future of the Persian Gulf region. In the message, Khamenei made it clear that Iran plans to manage the strategic Strait of Hormuz going forward and vowed that the country would retain its nuclear capabilities.

Maj Gen Mohsen Rezaee, the military adviser to the supreme leader, wrote on his X account that Iran "will never lose the strait of Hormuz" and claimed that the "siege scenario will fail". Rezaee stated that both diplomacy and field operations are proceeding with the coordination of the leader of the revolution.

U.S. Response and Diplomatic Deadlock

U.S. officials have rejected Iranian proposals regarding the reopening of the waterway. Top U.S. diplomat Marco Rubio stated that international waterways cannot be normalized under a system where "the Iranians decide who gets to use them". This followed reports that Iran had proposed an agreement to reopen the strait and end the war while delaying negotiations on Tehran’s nuclear program.

President Donald Trump has expressed doubts about the stability of the situation, noting the pressure on Iran due to the volume of oil moving through its system. He told Fox News that if the line is closed because oil cannot be put into ships, the system "explodes from within," and once it explodes, it can never be rebuilt to its previous state.

Market Impact

Warnings from Iranian officials that the strait will not return to its previous state have impacted global energy markets. Following these statements, Brent crude, the international benchmark, rose approximately 2.14% to $107.58, while U.S. crude increased 2.08% to $96.36.