The Article 5 Dispute: Iran Cites 'Flaw' In US MoU, Justifies Hormuz Closure | Exclusive

About a fifth of all traded oil and natural gas passed through the Strait of Hormuz before the war began on February 28.

Iran has defended its move to shut down the Strait of Hormuz, citing what it described as a “flaw” in Paragraph 5 of the June 18 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United States. Iran government officials suggest that the move to shut down the Strait of Hormuz corrects what they describe as a flaw in Paragraph 5 of the June 18 MOU, the Iranian government sources told Times Now. According to Iranian government sources, the agreement failed to clearly define Iran’s management authority over the strategic waterway and instead implied a shared administrative role with Oman.

Sources indicated that they admit that the language of the agreement was deliberately kept vague to secure consensus, with both sides anticipating they would later assert their own interpretations.

Earlier today, Iran said it considers the Strait of Hormuz closed once again after a vessel using an ‘unauthorised route’ was struck by a warning shot in the critical waterway, further jeopardising the already tenuous ceasefire agreement with the United States. The US is yet to respond to the closure. The announcement followed Iran and Oman’s foreign ministers’ meeting on Saturday to discuss the strait that lies between them.

What Article 5 of US-Iran MoU Says – The EXACT Text

The Article 5 of the US-Iran MoU says that once the interim deal is signed;

“The traffic of commercial vessels will immediately start, and considering the need for removing the technical and military obstacles, and demining by the Islamic Republic of Iran will be instated within 30 days,” it reads.

Iran will “conduct dialogue with the Sultanate of Oman to define the future administration and maritime services in the Strait of Hormuz in discussion with other Persian Gulf littoral states in line with the applicable international law and the sovereign rights of coastal states of the Strait of Hormuz,” it said.