Kazem Gharibabadi

Force in Play

Formally announced Iran's suspension of MOU commitments on July 18, citing sustained US military strikes as violations of the agreement

The 60-day ceasefire window set by the June memorandum expired August 17 with no extension. A White House official called the talks 'static,' and Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran has not decided to resume negotiations with Washington. Trump responded by confirming a secret US backchannel to Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps and threatening to bomb Oman if it interferes with US efforts in the strait.

Updated 6 days ago

Force in Play

Rejected Trump's claim that the US will declare the Strait of Hormuz US territory, calling it 'fanciful delusions'

President Trump said on August 14 that he plans to declare the Strait of Hormuz "a territory of the United States" once Iran is fully defeated. Iran's deputy foreign minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, called the claim a "fanciful delusion" the next day, writing that the strait "has been Iranian, is Iranian, and will remain Iranian."

Updated 7 days ago