TEHRAN/WASHINGTON — Iran’s Supreme National Security Council has declared that the strategic Strait of Hormuz will remain effectively closed until the United States complies with a sweeping list of economic, political, and military demands.
The hardening stance from Tehran introduces a major hurdle to international diplomatic efforts, coming even as Iranian officials report that a separate, localized shipping arrangement with Oman is nearing its final stages.
A Sweeping List of Conditions
Mohammad Baqer Zolghadr, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, outlined the strict prerequisites for reopening the vital global energy artery over the weekend. Among the core demands, Tehran is insisting on:
War Compensation: Financial reparations from the United States for damages incurred during military strikes.
Sanctions Relief: The complete lifting of U.S. sanctions and the release of frozen Iranian assets.
Naval and Regional Shifts: The removal of the U.S. counterblockade on Iranian ports, the withdrawal of American forces from the immediate region, and an end to hostilities against Iran and its regional allies.
"The strait is now actually a theater of war for us and not just a waterway," Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said in a statement, emphasizing that military strategy dictates maintaining the blockade "until the enemy accepts all our conditions".
The Oman Track vs. Washington Standoff
The strict conditions complicate a parallel diplomatic track involving Oman. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that indirect talks with Washington via Omani mediators to establish new, safe shipping paths through the strait were in their "final stages". However, Araghchi drew a sharp line between technical navigation agreements and broader political concessions, reiterating that the corridor will stay shut until the U.S. fulfills Tehran's wider demands and honors previous interim understandings.
The closure of the vital energy conduit has roiled global markets, driving up fuel prices and fueling inflationary pressures.
Washington's Response
In Washington, the White House has maintained a measured posture. Addressing the standoff, U.S. President Donald Trump indicated that his administration is adopting a patient approach as economic pressures mount on the Iranian government.
"We are low-keying it," Trump said in an interview, noting that Washington is only engaging in partial negotiations. "We are just watching Iran with its huge inflation and the fact they have no money. It will work out. It's like a chess game."
While U.S. officials have expressed optimism that a breakthrough on commercial shipping could be near—conditioned on Iran implementing its commitments—the widening gulf between Washington’s expectations and Tehran's extensive list of preconditions leaves the timeline for fully reopening the Strait of Hormuz highly uncertain.
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