Tehran, Aug. 18 -- Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf on Tuesday said that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed to maritime traffic until all Iranian conditions set forth in the 14-point Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the US are fully met, tying the reopening directly to the complete removal of foreign sanctions and military operations.

"Until America's commitments in the memorandum of understanding--including lifting the blockade, releasing frozen assets, lifting oil sanctions, ending threats and military operations on all fronts, and other conditions to which America committed--are implemented, the "Strait" will not be opened." Ghalibaf said.

Warning adversaries against further escalation, the Speake...