‘Won't return to pre-war conditions’: Iran says Hormuz will be administered by them

Iran's chief negotiator and parliamentary speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf on Tuesday said the Strait of Hormuz would remain under Tehran's administration and would not return to its pre-war status.Qalibaf stated that "the Strait of Hormuz will never return to its pre-war conditions and will be administered by the Islamic Republic of Iran,” AFP reported.The Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, is a key chokepoint for global oil and gas shipments, making stability in the region a matter of international concern.Frozen Iranian assets deal finalisedThe Iranian negotiator earlier said that discussions held during the Switzerland talks resulted in the finalisation of an agreement for the release of $12 billion in frozen Iranian assets.Speaking to Reuters after returning from talks with US officials in Switzerland, Qalibaf also revealed that Iran had agreed to establish a communication channel regarding ship movements through the Strait of Hormuz in an effort to prevent misunderstandings, conflicts and security incidents in one of the world's most critical energy transit routes.The remarks come days after high-level diplomatic engagements between Iranian and US officials aimed at reducing regional tensions. An interim agreement was signed last week, more than three months after the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran and Tehran retaliated with strikes on Israel and Gulf states hosting US military bases.