Iran toughens demands for vital Strait of Hormuz, deal remains out of reach

Iran has significantly escalated its demands regarding the critical Strait of Hormuz, asserting that a nearing agreement with Oman to manage the waterway will not automatically result in its full reopening. On Saturday, Iran's Supreme National Security Council declared that the strait would remain closed until the United States "corrects its behavior," outlining a series of broad preconditions for lifting the current restrictions.

These stringent new conditions include a permanent cessation of military actions against Iran and its regional allies, the withdrawal of all U.S. military forces from the area, and the complete lifting of economic sanctions and the naval blockade on Iranian ports. Tehran is also demanding the unconditional release of its frozen assets abroad and full compensation for war damages.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed that while negotiations with Oman are in their final stages, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz is contingent upon these additional demands and reparations for what Iran claims is a U.S. violation of a June agreement. The Revolutionary Guards further emphasized that the strait's status is independent of the Iran-Oman talks, resting solely on the U.S. acceding to Iran's terms. There has been no immediate public response from the United States regarding these latest demands.