Iran has accused the United States of breaching a bilateral memorandum of understanding by attempting to establish a new navigation corridor in the Strait of Hormuz. The allegation was made by Abbas Aslani, a senior research fellow at the Center for Middle East Strategic Studies, who told Al Jazeera that both Tehran and Washington are pursuing their own plans for managing maritime routes in the strategic waterway.

Aslani said Tehran believes the United States is trying to define a route outside the one agreed upon for ships and tankers, thereby violating the terms of the memorandum. He added that Iran has been holding discussions with Oman and plans to engage other regional countries on setting up a new system. According to Aslani, Washington is pressuring regional states and seeking to revert the situation in the Strait to its pre-conflict state, while Iran insists that a new reality and system have already emerged.

Aslani emphasized that both sides are displaying their strategic strength, describing the issue as critical for Iran’s national security and existence.