Iran is prepared to reopen the Strait of Hormuz if the US ends its naval blockade of the country, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said.

Pezeshkian made the remarks in an interview, outlining Tehran’s position amid heightened tensions surrounding the strategically important waterway, according to Iran International.

The Iranian president said Iran and Oman are expected to sign an agreement in Muscat on September 14 establishing a joint route through the Strait of Hormuz. The agreement will reportedly be signed in the presence of the foreign ministers of Arab countries before being submitted to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for consideration.

Pezeshkian accused Washington of shifting toward a naval blockade strategy after failing to achieve its objectives through direct military confrontation.

He also stressed that continued external pressure would not force Iran to back down from its position.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important maritime routes, making any restrictions on shipping through the waterway a potentially significant development for regional trade and global energy markets.