Iran doubles down on new conditions to open Hormuz, denies it’s negotiating with US

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps declared on Sunday that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the United States fulfills Tehran's demands, which include compensation for war damages. This stance escalates tensions over the vital global economic waterway.

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until the enemy accepts all our conditions… the strait is now actually a theater of war for us and not just a waterway.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi indicated that discussions with Oman concerning the transit and management of the strait are progressing towards their final stages. However, he emphasized that the reopening of Hormuz is contingent upon additional conditions and compensation for alleged violations of a previous agreement. Araghchi also refuted claims of direct negotiations with the U.S., characterizing the interactions as mere exchanges of messages through intermediaries.

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approaching the final stages

Iran has maintained an effective blockade of the strait since late February, following what it describes as attacks by the United States and Israel. The country seeks to impose tolls for passage and has targeted ships accused of attempting to bypass its preferred routes. These actions have led to the collapse of a previous ceasefire agreement.

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is subject to other conditions and compensation for the violation

Mediators have been urging both sides to adhere to a subsequent June memorandum that outlined a path for peace talks. However, Iran's security chief, Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, previously laid out a list of demands, including an end to "war and aggression against Iran and its allies," the lifting of U.S. counterblockades, the termination of sanctions, the release of frozen assets, and compensation for wartime damage. The IRGC reiterated its strategy, stating the strait is currently a "theater of war" for Iran until its conditions are met.

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exchanging messages