Iran's Foreign Minister warns that challenging Hormuz shipping lanes will heighten tensions.

Iran’s senior diplomat warned on Sunday that any attempt to bypass the Strait of Hormuz routes agreed with the United States would “increase tensions” in the Middle East, as the two sides traded accusations of violating a fragile ceasefire in the region.

While visiting Baghdad, Abbas Araghchi called for a security framework that includes Gulf countries, and Tehran and Washington accused each other of breaching the fragile truce intended to end the Middle East war.

“Any attempt to adopt new or separate arrangements compared to what is underway by the Islamic Republic of Iran will only lead to more complicated situations and delays in the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and will increase the tensions, as we witnessed in the past two nights,” Araghchi said at a press conference.

Tracking platforms showed that vessels continued to use a non‑Iranian‑approved passage in the strategic waterway on Friday.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said a day earlier that Oman and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) had announced a new corridor without consulting Tehran, and warned vessels against using it.

Araghchi’s warning followed the U.S. military’s announcement of new strikes on Saturday against multiple targets in Iran, in response to a fresh attack on a ship transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

Tehran responded by launching strikes against U.S. bases in the Gulf.

The recent clashes have tested the negotiating process designed to end a war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran on February 28.

Araghchi urged all parties to “adhere to the memorandum of understanding and not allow this MoU to deviate from its course.”

He added that “we should reach a new framework that includes all countries in the region and without the presence or interference of any country from outside the region.”

He welcomed Iraq’s call to hold a meeting between the Gulf States, Iran and Iraq, which has been involved in the Middle East war from the outset.

Iraq is expected to hold funeral processions on July 8 for Iran’s late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed during attacks by the U.S. and Israel on the first day of the war.

burs/rh/jfx