Image Credits: Iran rejects Trump claim of Strait of Hormuz deal, says no agreement exists. AI-generated illustration created by Open Chronicle using ChatGPT (OpenAI). July 2026. This image is illustrative and does not depict a real-world scene.
By Open Chronicle with agencies
Iran has firmly denied U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that Tehran had agreed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz as part of a broader diplomatic understanding with Washington, insisting that no such agreement exists.
The denial came after Trump announced that planned U.S. military strikes on Iran had been suspended because the outlines of a deal had allegedly been reached. According to the U.S. president, the proposed arrangement included the “immediate, complete, and total” reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important maritime trade routes.
Tehran has rejected those assertions.
Iranian state media described reports of an agreement as false. At the same time, officials maintained that the strategic waterway would remain subject to Iranian control as long as what they described as hostile actions by the United States continue.
The semi-official Fars News Agency, citing sources close to Iran’s negotiating team and military leadership, reported that no agreement had been reached regarding the reopening of the strait.
“There is no agreement on reopening the Strait of Hormuz,” an informed source told the agency.
According to the report, commercial vessels will only be permitted to transit through a designated corridor after coordinating with and receiving authorization from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy. A military source also warned that ships attempting to use unauthorized routes could face “incidents.”
The statements reinforce Tehran’s position that it continues to exercise strict control over access to the narrow waterway, through which a significant share of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas exports passes.
Iranian officials also dismissed Trump’s assertion that Tehran had requested Washington to postpone military action.
The Mehr News Agency quoted officials as describing the claim as “another lie” and accused the United States of attempting to pressure Gulf states through threats of military escalation.
Officials said Iran’s armed forces remain at the highest level of readiness and are prepared for any possible confrontation.
“If confrontation becomes inevitable, the battlefield will be decisive,” the officials said, adding that the outcome would determine “who holds the power and who will have the final say.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reaffirmed Tehran’s position during a telephone conversation with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan. According to Iranian reports, Araghchi said Iran remains prepared to defend its sovereignty, territorial integrity and national security against any military action by the United States or Israel.
He warned that any attack would receive what he described as a decisive and proportionate response from Iranian forces.
The conflicting statements from Washington and Tehran highlight the uncertainty surrounding diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions in the Gulf. While the White House has suggested negotiations are progressing, Iranian officials continue to deny that any agreement has been reached, leaving the future of the Strait of Hormuz and broader regional stability uncertain.