US demanding Iran publicly vow to stop attacks in Hormuz and forswear tolls on ships

The United States is pressing Iran for a public commitment to cease attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and to ensure all shipping lanes remain open without tolls. This demand comes amid ongoing tensions in the vital waterway, through which approximately one-fifth of the world's oil supply typically flows.

“

What we're demanding is that the Iranians issue a public statement that acknowledges all channels of the Strait of Hormuz are open and they're not shooting at ships anymore.

Senior US officials stated that recent discussions between the two nations have been productive. They are seeking a public declaration from Iran that acknowledges the open nature of all channels within the Strait of Hormuz and confirms an end to attacks on ships. "What we're demanding is that the Iranians issue a public statement that acknowledges all channels of the Strait of Hormuz are open and they're not shooting at ships anymore," one official explained.

Iran has consistently refused to relinquish control over the strategic strait. However, US officials noted that Iran has attributed recent attacks on shipping to "an errant part of their system." This suggests a potential internal power struggle within Iran between hardliners and pragmatists regarding the strait's control and the approach to international maritime traffic.

“

Iran has told Washington that recent attacks on shipping in the strait were from “an errant part of their system,”

The US is aiming for Iran to publicly state it will stop shooting at ships, implicitly or explicitly acknowledging a mistake. "We are hoping to get to a place where they publicly say that they will stop shooting at ships and sort of explicitly or at least implicitly acknowledging that they screwed up. We are working on that now," one official added. The outcome, officials warned, depends on Iran's willingness to issue the requested statement.

“

We are hoping to get to a place where they publicly say that they will stop shooting at ships and sort of explicitly or at least implicitly acknowledging that they screwed up. We are working on that now.