Vance says US expects Hormuz to stay open toll-free long term - CNBC

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson said Lebanon and ending the war there were an “integral part” of the memorandum of understanding between Tehran and Washington to end the war.

“The word Lebanon is used three times in the memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States. Ending the war on all fronts, including Lebanon, and respecting Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is a completely clear phrase, and any understanding must include respect for Lebanon’s territorial integrity and national sovereignty,” Esmail Baghaei told reporters on Monday.

“It will become clearer later that Israel’s Sunday attack against Lebanon turned into an opportunity to secure the maximum interests of Iran, the resistance front and Lebanon,” Baghaei added.

Baghaei said a final decision on how the memorandum of understanding would be signed would be made on Monday and Tuesday.

He said visits to regional and neighboring countries were on the agenda before a meeting in Geneva.

Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger welcomed on Monday the agreement between the United States and Iran, calling it a major step toward peace.

She said the deal was good for the region, Europe and Austria, but added that it now needed to be signed, the Strait of Hormuz reopened and free shipping ensured.

Meinl-Reisinger said nuclear talks should continue in depth and constructively, adding that Vienna stood ready to support the process.

“What weapons could not achieve, the negotiating table can,” she said, thanking Pakistan and Persian Gulf states for months of mediation.

Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen welcomed on Monday the MOU between the United States and Iran, calling it a hopeful step toward stability in the region, including Lebanon.

Berendsen also thanked Pakistan and other mediators, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey.

Iraq welcomed on Monday the memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran, saying it supported efforts to strengthen dialogue, diplomacy and respect for international law.

Iraq’s foreign ministry said it hoped the MOU would help consolidate regional security and stability and open new avenues for cooperation.

IRGC-affiliated Fars News reported on Monday, citing an informed source, that “important changes” were made to the final text of the memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States.

The source said the changes explicitly affirmed what he called Iran and Oman’s sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz and their role in determining the future of maritime services there.

The source said that Iran would accept toll-free passage for ships through the Strait of Hormuz for only 60 days, adding that Tehran planned afterward to offer safety, navigation, environmental and insurance services and use revenue from commercial ship traffic for economic development.