Iran Demands US Concessions to Reopen Strait of Hormuz

The Government of Iran has declared its control over the Strait of Hormuz irreversible, stating the waterway will remain closed until the United States meets a series of sweeping demands. The Supreme National Security Council stipulated that the U.S. must end its war with Iran and its allies, lift the naval blockade of Iranian ports, withdraw military forces from the region, release frozen assets, and provide full compensation for war damages.

Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, clarified that the reopening of the strait is not subject to a separate framework agreement with Oman to establish a safe navigation corridor for commercial shipping. While Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi noted that a temporary transit route agreement with Oman is nearly complete, he maintained that full access depends entirely on the U.S. response.

Amid these demands, the United Arab Emirates reported that Iran fired a missile at a vessel owned by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company. While no casualties were reported in the strike, the company noted that over a dozen of its ships have been targeted since the U.S. and Israel began their war against Iran in February. The U.S. has not yet commented on the new conditions as a 60-day negotiation window for a final deal expires in just over a week.