Iran’s negotiating team denies reports of talks with US

TEHRAN, July 17 (YPA) – Iran’s negotiating team on Saturday denied reports circulated by hostile media claiming that negotiations with the United States have resumed.

It also reiterated that, under Article 5 of the memorandum of understanding, the Strait of Hormuz should remain under Iran’s control.

In a statement carried by the Mehr News Agency, the media committee of the Iranian negotiating team said that, in accordance with Article 5 of the memorandum, the Strait of Hormuz is to be administered by Iran.

The committee added that, due to the United States’ violation of that provision, the situation in the strait has reverted to the status that existed before the memorandum was signed.

It rejected claims that negotiations with Washington are ongoing, stressing that official channels are the only reliable source of information on the matter.

The committee also urged media outlets and social media users to report developments based on an authentic Iranian narrative and to avoid adopting narratives promoted by Iran’s adversaries during a sensitive period.

It further called on journalists and online users to refrain from amplifying Western media narratives, adding that many of them are intended to fuel internal discord in Iran.