Iranian Lawmaker Accuses US of Violating MoU, Warns of Wider Regional Conflict

Ahmad Bakhshayesh Ardestani, a member of the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, has accused US President Donald Trump of failing to uphold the provisions of the Islamabad memorandum of understanding (MoU), particularly a clause he claimed recognized Iran’s role in managing shipping arrangements through the Strait of Hormuz. In an interview with the Iranian news outlet Entekhab, the lawmaker alleged that Washington sought to establish an alternative maritime corridor through Oman during a 60-day implementation period to reduce Iran’s strategic influence over the waterway.

Bakhshayesh said regional Arab states were pursuing diplomatic efforts to contain the crisis, but warned that any significant increase in global oil prices could further destabilize key shipping routes, including the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. While acknowledging that some Gulf states, including the United Arab Emirates, were developing alternative trade routes and expanding port infrastructure, he argued that such initiatives would remain vulnerable because they fall within the range of Iran’s missile capabilities.

Addressing speculation about a possible US attempt to seize Iran’s Kharg Island, the country’s main oil export terminal, Bakhshayesh claimed that even if US forces captured the island temporarily, they would be unable to maintain control due to Iran’s military capabilities. He further warned that any US ground invasion of Iran could trigger a broader regional conflict, alleging that Iran could respond with military action against Kuwait and Bahrain.