Director of the Islamabad Center for Political Studies Abdul Karim Shah explained the reasons for the recent escalation in the Strait of Hormuz.

Shah, speaking in a phone-in on the program "Here Riyadh" broadcast on Al-Akhbariya channel, added that Iran still adheres to its own interpretation of the memorandum of understanding signed between it and the United States of America, particularly in Article 5.

He continued that Iran insists it has the right to manage the Strait of Hormuz, despite the explicit stipulations that Tehran cannot take a unilateral decision on this matter; rather, it must negotiate with Oman and the Gulf states before making any decision. Meanwhile, Iran seeks to exploit ambiguous wording, noting that the United States has constants it will not back down on regarding freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz without any restrictions or fees.

It is noteworthy that Article 5 of the memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran has become a subject of debate due to the vague wording in that clause, which obligates Iran to ensure safe passage of ships and remove military obstacles. Iran wants to interpret that part in its own way to control the strait, while the US administration wants to guarantee freedom of navigation.

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