Iran sets new conditions for Hormuz

Iran has set several conditions for fully reopening the Strait of Hormuz, including an end to US military operations, the lifting of sanctions, compensation for war-related damage and the release of frozen Iranian assets. Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said Washington must stop threatening Iran, end military operations against Tehran and its regional allies, lift the naval blockade on Iranian ports and withdraw US forces from the region. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said talks with Oman on managing commercial shipping through the strait had made progress, particularly on designated transit routes.

However, he said full reopening depended on a broader agreement with the US. Oman said negotiations were continuing in a positive and constructive atmosphere. Washington opposes unilateral Iranian control or tolls on the strait, while Tehran insists on its designated routes and management arrangements. The UAE has also accused Iran of attacking an ADNOC vessel with a missile, although the claim has not been independently verified. President Masoud Pezeshkian has called for a swift agreement with Washington, saying the current moment offers the best opportunity for a deal. However, major political and military differences remain, leaving the waterway’s full reopening uncertain.