Iran negotiator Ghalibaf says Hormuz will not open until US meets demands

TEHRAN - Iran’s top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Aug 18 that the strategic Strait of Hormuz will not be opened until the United States meets Tehran’s demands, including lifting a naval blockade.“I want to state clearly that the Strait of Hormuz will not be opened until the American commitments stipulated in the memorandum of understanding... are implemented,” Ghalibaf said in a speech broadcast on state television.He listed the removal of the blockade, the lifting of oil sanctions and unfreezing of Iran’s assets abroad among the demands, which were included in an Iran-US truce in June that later collapsed.War between Iran and the United States broke out on Feb 28 after US-Israeli attacks on the Islamic republic, triggering a conflict across the region.Diplomatic efforts have