U.S. And Iran Differ Over Memorandum Interpretation on Strait Of Hormuz, Analyst Says

A maritime security analyst said the United States and Iran have diverging interpretations of a memorandum of understanding, with the gap most evident in arrangements for passage through the Strait of Hormuz. According to Jin10, Al Jazeera cited maritime security analyst Alexandru Hudisteanu as saying the two sides’ readings are “misaligned,” with Iran favoring a strict, clause-by-clause interpretation while the United States emphasizes the broader spirit of the agreement. The analysis said Iran wants the current arrangement to be established as a bilateral temporary ceasefire with force under international law. The United States, by contrast, views it as an “understanding” in which Iran would ensure smooth shipping through the Strait of Hormuz for the next 60 days, followed by further discussions. Hudisteanu said Iran still wants to prioritize issues such as the Strait of Hormuz and use them as key leverage in talks with the United States. He added that the United States wants to resolve the strait issue quickly and shift negotiations toward Iran’s nuclear program.