Iran on Friday reaffirmed that the Strait of Hormuz remains open to commercial traffic and that merchant vessels continue to transit the strategic waterway safely under a recently signed agreement with the United States aimed at ending hostilities in the Middle East.

"Iran has taken the necessary measures to ensure the safe passage of merchant ships through the Strait of Hormuz, in accordance with the memorandum of understanding on the end of the war, and maritime traffic continues on this route," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said in remarks released by the ministry.

The statement was issued in response to reports from several international media outlets suggesting Iranian authorities were restricting passage through the strait.

In its statement, which was broadcast on maritime radio channels on Friday, according to The New York Post, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said Iran would not reopen the strategic waterway until several conditions outlined in the agreement were met.

"Since Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon, the complete lifting of the naval blockade and the withdrawal of American terrorist forces from the Persian Gulf and the region are among the main conditions of the agreement between Iran and the United States," the broadcast reported.

"The Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until these conditions are met," it added. "All ships are requested, for the sake of their security and safety, not to approach the Strait of Hormuz. Any vessel that defies this directive will be targeted."

Baqaei rejected those claims, maintaining that shipping operations remain normal under the terms of the memorandum of understanding signed this week by President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

The agreement, reached after months of conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States, provides for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and establishes a 60-day period for negotiations on broader issues, including Iran's nuclear program.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most critical maritime choke points, carrying roughly one-fifth of global oil shipments and significant volumes of liquefied natural gas. Any disruption to traffic through the narrow waterway has the potential to affect global energy markets.

Addressing Iran's nuclear program, Baqaei said negotiations with the United States would take place within the 60-day time frame established by the agreement and would be conditioned on compliance with the accord's agreed-upon requirements.

He said the current status of Iran's nuclear program remains unchanged and indicated that the International Atomic Energy Agency will not conduct inspections at newly established facilities during the negotiation period.

According to Baqaei, any future changes regarding inspections or Iran's nuclear activities will depend on the progress and outcome of the talks.

Iranian officials also provided additional details about shipping arrangements under the agreement.

On Thursday, Iran's National Security Council announced that commercial vessels requesting passage through the Strait of Hormuz will not be charged transit fees for 60 days.

The council said fees that would otherwise be collected during that period will instead be covered by the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran as part of the preliminary agreement reached with Washington.

The announcement followed confirmation by the U.S. military that the blockade on Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz had been lifted after the signing of the memorandum.

Under the agreement, Iran also will continue discussions with Oman regarding the future administration and maritime services of the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian officials said those talks will be conducted in consultation with other Persian Gulf states as part of a broader effort to establish long-term arrangements for managing the strait.

The agreement is viewed as a key step in efforts to stabilize the region following months of military confrontation, although major issues — including Iran's nuclear program and broader regional security concerns — remain unresolved.