Kathmandu— A United States official has declared that any temporary shipping routes established through the Strait of Hormuz would be free from permits, approvals, and fees, asserting that no single party controls navigation in this critical maritime passage. The statement comes as tensions rise following Iranian officials' rejection of U.S. President Donald Trump's comments on reopening the strait.

Iranian Rejection of US Proposal

Senior Iranian official Mohsen Rezaee, a military adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, rejected Trump's proposal for reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Rezaee stated that Iran would only permit shipping routes designated by Tehran and warned against unauthorized transits through the strait, asserting that any US warships using such routes could face military action.

Trump's Diplomatic Stance

President Trump expressed confidence in diplomatic efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, stating that discussions were underway and progress could be made as early as Tuesday. He emphasized that the first phase would focus on restoring unrestricted navigation through the strait, while the second phase would address Iran's nuclear program. Trump also claimed this was Iran’s 'last chance' for an agreement, noting that military action had been paused at the request of regional allies.

(With inputs from ANI)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.