The short version
- Iran's supreme security council has declared that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the United States ends hostilities, lifts sanctions, and compensates for war damages.
- An Abu Dhabi state-owned oil vessel was targeted by an Iranian missile on Saturday, adding to a series of attacks on commercial shipping since the conflict began in February.
- Mediators from Oman report constructive talks are continuing, but the deadline for a final agreement is approaching with significant disagreements remaining over tolls and transit routes.
Diplomatic efforts to restore normal navigation through the Strait of Hormuz have hit a significant roadblock as Iranian leadership issued stringent new conditions for reopening the waterway. The Supreme National Security Council, a powerful body within Iran’s government, stated that the strait will not open until the United States fundamentally alters its conduct in the region. This declaration comes as negotiations remain stalled and violence continues to disrupt global energy supplies.
The demands outlined by Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, secretary of the council and an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander, are extensive. Tehran requires the United States to permanently end what it describes as a war against Iran and its regional allies. Additionally, the US must lift the naval blockade currently imposed on Iranian ports and withdraw its military forces from the area entirely.
Financial reparations form another critical pillar of Iran’s position. The council insisted that Washington must provide complete compensation for damages incurred during the conflict. Furthermore, Tehran is demanding the lifting of all sanctions and the unconditional release of frozen Iranian assets. These conditions represent a hardening of Iran’s stance compared to earlier phases of negotiation.
The United States has not yet responded to these latest demands. American officials have previously indicated that an acceptable agreement on the strait’s operation is a prerequisite for ending the naval blockade. Under an interim memorandum signed in June, both sides agreed that a schedule for ending sanctions and a compensation plan would be part of a final deal, with frozen assets also subject to negotiation.
Despite the high-level rhetoric, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi suggested on Saturday that progress was being made on specific technical details. He claimed that negotiators were close to an agreement on navigation protocols, particularly regarding the determination of a transit route. However, he emphasized that reopening the waterway remains contingent on meeting the broader political and financial conditions set by Tehran.
Violence in the region continues to complicate diplomatic efforts. On Saturday, Emirati authorities reported that a vessel owned by Abu Dhabi’s state-owned Adnoc oil and gas company was targeted by an Iranian missile while transiting the strait. The attack occurred early in the day, and while no casualties were reported from this specific incident, it marks another escalation in hostilities against commercial shipping.
Adnoc stated that more than a dozen of its vessels have been attacked by missiles and drones since the US and Israel launched military operations against Iran in February. These attacks have resulted in one crew member death and twenty injuries. The company did not provide specific details regarding damage to the vessel struck on Saturday, but the incident highlights the persistent danger facing maritime traffic.
Oman, which has been mediating the talks, issued a statement condemning attacks on ships in the strait while noting that discussions were continuing in a positive atmosphere. The 60-day period for negotiating a final deal is set to expire in just over a week, though an extension remains possible. Iran has indicated it is close to a separate arrangement with Oman regarding the future administration of the waterway.
The core disagreement persists over Iran’s desire to charge tolls for passage through the strait. The United States opposes any Iranian fees, although the June deal allows Tehran to work with Oman on administrative arrangements. Ship transits remain significantly lower than pre-conflict levels, as the waterway was previously considered an international thoroughfare free of such restrictions.
The collapse of an April ceasefire was directly linked to continued attacks in the strait, prompting mediators to urge both sides to return to the terms established in June. With the deadline approaching and fundamental disagreements unresolved, the path to restoring safe passage for global oil and natural gas supplies remains unclear and fraught with risk.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- The Guardian US↗Iran issues tough demands to reopen strait of Hormuz as deal still out of reach
