IRGC Spokesman: Hormuz Reopening Has Its Own Mechanism, Separate From Iran-Oman Talks

IRGC spokesman Hossein Mohebbi told Iranian state media on Saturday, August 8, 2026 (17 Mordad 1405), that the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz "has its own specific mechanism and has nothing to do with the negotiations between Iran and Oman," adding that the United States will have no choice but to accede to the conditions the Islamic Republic sets for reopening the strategic waterway, Al Jazeera reported. Mohebbi described Hormuz as not just an economic waterway but a source of leverage tied to Iran's geography, and urged the Trump administration not to "interfere" in the Iran-Oman talks.

The same day, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the arrangement with Oman as "very close" but said a full reopening depends on the US fully honoring commitments made under the June 2026 memorandum of understanding. Al Jazeera reported that Iranian markets reacted positively on Saturday, the first trading day of the week, with the rial strengthening to about 1.85 million to the dollar and the Tehran Stock Exchange's main index climbing 112,000 points to 5.52 million.