Iran Says Strait of Hormuz Will Not Fully Reopen Until US Meets Its Demands

TEHRAN:Iran has made clear that even if it reaches an agreement with Oman on the safe passage of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic waterway will not be fully reopened until the United States accepts all of Tehran’s demands.

Mohsen Rezaei, the newly appointed secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, told semi-official Tasnim news agency that Washington must first change its approach and meet Iran’s demands.

Rezaei said Iran’s conditions include an end to the war and the release of Iranian assets frozen abroad. He stressed that any potential agreement between Iran and Oman regarding the Strait of Hormuz would not automatically guarantee its full reopening.

Earlier, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said Iran and Oman had agreed on the geographical coordinates of a potential maritime route and were finalizing a joint statement.

However, Baghaei also made clear that such an agreement would not guarantee complete security in the Strait of Hormuz.

### Iran’s Demands

Iranian officials have outlined several conditions in recent days, including an end to the presence of US forces and the war in the region, an end to the naval blockade of Iran, the restoration of frozen Iranian assets and the lifting of sanctions.

Tehran has also demanded an end to US or Israeli attacks on Iran’s regional allies, including Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis and other affiliated groups.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global energy route, and any prolonged disruption to shipping through the waterway could have significant consequences for international oil and gas markets.:::