US-Iran, July 18 set as date for next round of talks, frozen funds remain conditional on Hormuz

The next round of talks between the United States and Iran is expected to take place on July 18, according to reports on the latest developments between the two countries.

Following the conclusion of two days of technical negotiations held in Doha, Qatar, Washington made it clear to Tehran that it will not tolerate any change to the current status of the Strait of Hormuz.

According to sources cited by Al Arabiya and Al Hadath, the US sees Iran’s conduct toward this strategically important sea route as the first test of its commitment to implementing the memorandum of understanding signed in June. For the US administration, any attempt to alter the status of the strait would be considered a direct violation of the agreement.

The same sources said Washington is closely monitoring every move by Iran in the area and that any escalation of tensions will have a direct impact on the implementation of the understandings reached between the parties.

According to the US, the issue of releasing frozen Iranian funds is tied to Tehran’s compliance with the terms of the memorandum of understanding, particularly the guarantee of safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

According to the same source, Iran has been clearly told that any progress on the frozen funds file will depend both on the full implementation of the memorandum and on its concrete actions on the ground, especially with regard to the security of maritime passage in Hormuz.

Meanwhile, the joint command of the Iranian armed forces said the continued US military presence in the airspace over the Strait of Hormuz poses a threat to regional security.

It also warned that any American intervention in the region would be met with an “immediate and decisive response.”

Iranian military authorities also said that all ships must respect the maritime corridors designated by Tehran in order to ensure their safe passage through the strait.

Tensions between Washington and Tehran deepened at the end of last week after Iran accused the US of violating the ceasefire and carrying out attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

The United States, for its part, also accused Iran of attacking ships passing through this strategic maritime corridor.

Following these tensions, the US carried out strikes on military targets in southern Iran, while Tehran said it had struck facilities linked to the US in Kuwait and Bahrain.

Iran continues to defend the position that it has sovereign rights over the management of transit in the Strait of Hormuz and insists that it has the right to impose fees for the services it provides, a position rejected by the United States.

The memorandum of understanding signed in June by Washington and Tehran provides for full freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, without fees and without restrictions, for a 60-day period.

However, Tehran has interpreted this agreement as a first phase toward a broader role in the future administration of navigation, with the aim of establishing a fee system in cooperation with the Sultanate of Oman.

Meanwhile, Oman has clearly stressed that it is against the imposition of fees on international maritime transport, assessing that such a step would run counter to international maritime law.