Iran Issues New Demands as Pezeshkian Seeks Deal

Iran has laid out a new set of demands that the United States must meet before the critical Strait of Hormuz can be fully reopened, linking the waterway's accessibility to a broader set of political and economic concessions.

Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, stated that the strait would remain closed until Washington "corrects its behavior." These six conditions include an end to U.S. threats and perceived insults to Iran's national values, a permanent halt to attacks against Iran and its allies in Lebanon, Palestine, Yemen, and Iraq, and the withdrawal of U.S. naval and air forces from the region.

Furthermore, Iran is demanding compensation for damages from what Zolghadr termed two "imposed wars," the complete lifting of sanctions, and the unconditional release of frozen Iranian assets. These demands significantly expand upon previous understandings, such as a June memorandum of understanding, which reportedly treated such issues as part of a reciprocal process.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) emphasized that the reopening of Hormuz is contingent upon Washington accepting these conditions and is distinct from ongoing negotiations with Oman. The IRGC spokesperson stated, "Whenever the United States accepts Iran’s conditions, the Strait of Hormuz will certainly be reopened."

These new conditions represent a hardening of Iran's stance, tying the strategic waterway to a more expansive list of grievances and demands directed at the United States.

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Whenever the United States accepts Iran’s conditions, the Strait of Hormuz will certainly be reopened.