Iran sets US conditions for reopening Strait of Hormuz

Iran has said it is close to reaching an agreement with Oman on new shipping arrangements through the Strait of Hormuz but insists that the waterway will not be reopened until the United States meets a series of demands.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Sunday that negotiations with Oman were in their final stages. However, he stressed that reopening the strategic waterway would depend on Washington meeting conditions set by Tehran.

The proposed agreement would establish new shipping lanes through the strait once the United States fulfils the conditions and commercial traffic resumes, Iran’s Mehr news agency quoted Araqchi as saying.

Tehran and Washington are not holding direct talks, Araqchi said, adding that messages were being exchanged through intermediaries. He said Iran would not enter direct negotiations while Washington continued to breach an interim agreement reached in June.

Among Tehran’s demands is compensation from the United States for damage caused during attacks on Iran.

Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said the conditions also included an end to further US military threats, a halt to what Tehran describes as aggression against Iran and its regional allies, the lifting of sanctions and the release of frozen Iranian assets.

Iran has also demanded the removal of a US naval blockade in the Gulf.

The United States and Israel launched air strikes against Iran more than five months ago, saying the attacks were aimed at preventing Tehran from developing nuclear weapons and reducing its ability to threaten regional security.

A ceasefire was agreed in June, but tensions subsequently escalated after Washington reimposed restrictions on Iranian shipping in the Gulf in July. Tehran said the move violated the truce, which had already broken down.

A US official told Reuters that Washington would lift its blockade of Iranian ports once an agreement was announced to restore unrestricted commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

The official told US actions would be linked to Iran’s implementation of its commitments under the proposed arrangement.

The Strait of Hormuz is a vital global shipping route and a major conduit for oil and gas exports from the Gulf.

US President Donald Trump, meanwhile, said Washington was taking a cautious approach towards Iran while maintaining limited negotiations.

“We are only semi-negotiating with them,” Trump said in an interview with Axios, adding that the United States was monitoring Iran’s economic difficulties.

The proposed shipping arrangement has raised questions among industry sources over its practicality, particularly reports that Iran could exercise greater control over vessels entering the Gulf through the strait.

The United Arab Emirates also said on Saturday that Iran had attacked a vessel linked to its state oil company, although Tehran did not immediately comment on the allegation.