Iran's sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz is essential for reaching a peace deal with the U.S., an Iranian official said on Monday (May 25).

Ebrahim Azizi, head of the Iranian parliament's National Security Committee, said the strait is not up for negotiations “the way we did with the nuclear issue.”

Oil prices fell nearly 7% on Monday as optimism grew that the United States and Iran were moving closer to a peace deal that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, even though Washington and Tehran played down hopes for an imminent breakthrough.

Iran's top negotiator and its foreign minister were in Doha for talks with Qatar's prime minister on a potential deal with the U.S. to end the three-month-old war, an official briefed on the visit said on Monday.

Both sides said they have made progress on a memorandum of understanding that would halt the war and give negotiators 60 days to reach a final deal.

Citing a Middle East diplomatic source, the Nikkei newspaper reported on Monday that the U.S. and Iran were discussing a plan to open the Strait of Hormuz about 30 days after the two countries reach a deal to end hostilities.

Iran would proceed to clear mines from the strait during a 30-day window following an agreement, after which ships from all countries would be able to navigate freely and safely, and Iran would stop collecting transit fees, Nikkei said.

The ceasefire agreed in early April would be extended for 60 days, with the plan to hold talks on Iran's nuclear program during the two-month pause, the report added.

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Iran's sovereignty over Hormuz essential for peace deal with US, official says

VIDEO SHOWS: SOUNDBITES FROM HEAD OF THE IRANIAN PARLIAMENT’S NATIONAL SECURITY COMMITTEE, EBRAHIM AZIZI

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: TEHRAN, IRAN (MAY 25, 2026) (IRINN - No use Iran. No use BBC Persian. No use VOA Persian. No use Manoto. No use Iran International. No use Radio Farda.)

1. (SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) HEAD OF THE IRANIAN PARLIAMENT’S NATIONAL SECURITY COMMITTEE, EBRAHIM AZIZI, SAYING:

"One of the fundamental pillars of these victories by our great and remarkable nation is our geopolitics: the Strait of Hormuz. We will never take this into negotiations the way we did with the nuclear issue. What is currently envisaged is that if the American blockade is lifted, then transit through the Strait of Hormuz will take place under arrangements determined by the Islamic Republic of Iran, and only for non-military and non-hostile traffic. I have seen claims about reopening the strait or returning it to its previous situation and so on, but that is not what it means at all. This is the clear emphasis of our people and the determination of the authorities."

2. WHITE FLASH

3. (SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) HEAD OF THE IRANIAN PARLIAMENT’S NATIONAL SECURITY COMMITTEE, EBRAHIM AZIZI, SAYING:

(PRESENTER: "So, in effect this means recognition of Iran’s sovereign rights over the Strait of Hormuz?")

"Absolutely. In principle, we never needed anyone to recognise it. These are our territorial waters. These are our legitimate rights. But I wanted to stress that this is one of those issues that must clearly demonstrate itself in the first stages through five confidence-building measures."