Tehran issues drastic new demands for deal to reopen Hormuz, says US must ‘correct its behavior’

Iran has issued a stringent set of new demands for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, declaring that the vital waterway will remain closed until the United States "corrects its behavior." The statement came from Iran's Supreme National Security Council, a powerful politburo-like body.

According to the council's secretary, Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, who also commands the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the U.S. must cease threats against Iran, permanently end its conflict with Iran and regional allies, lift naval blockades of Iranian ports, and withdraw its military from the area. Furthermore, Iran demands "complete compensation" for war damages, the lifting of sanctions, and the unconditional release of frozen assets.

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The United States must never threaten Iran again, and must permanently end the war with Iran and its armed allies in the region. The US must lift the naval blockade of Iranian ports and withdraw its military from the area. It also must “completely compensate” Iran for war damage, lift sanctions and “unconditionally” release frozen assets.

These demands echo previous conditions Iran set for a permanent accord with the U.S., which was intended to address Iran's nuclear program. However, they are now being presented as prerequisites solely for reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Analysts suggest the U.S. is unlikely to accept these terms, potentially leading President Donald Trump to reconsider military options he had previously shelved.

While the U.S. has sought a deal on the strait before lifting its blockade, negotiations for a final agreement, which began under an interim deal in June, are nearing their 60-day deadline. Iran has also indicated progress on a separate deal with Oman to manage navigation in the strait, though the waterway's reopening remains contingent on broader U.S. acceptance of Tehran's conditions.

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Clearly the US cannot accept those demands and that they could potentially push US President Donald Trump back toward the military option that he shelved only days ago.