Iran Sets New Conditions to Reopen Strait of Hormuz

Iran has said it will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz until the United States changes its policies, a move that could further complicate talks over the strategic waterway.

Iran’s politburo-like body known as the Supreme National Security Council said in its statement that the US must stop threatening Iran, end the war and withdraw its military forces from the region.

Iran also demanded an end to the US naval blockade of its ports, compensation for war damage, the lifting of sanctions and the unconditional release of frozen Iranian assets.

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The statement was issued by council secretary Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, a commander in Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, and published by Iranian state media on Saturday.

The United States has not immediately responded.

Washington has pushed for an agreement on the Strait of Hormuz before ending the blockade.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran was also close to reaching a separate agreement with Oman on navigation through the strait, including the creation of a specific transit route.

However, Araghchi said reopening the waterway would depend on other conditions, accusing the US of violating an interim agreement.

Oman, which has been mediating the talks, said discussions were continuing in a “positive and constructive atmosphere” and condemned attacks on ships in the strait.

The Strait of Hormuz is a major route for global oil and gas supplies, but shipping activity has remained low since the conflict began.

The latest tensions followed an attack on a vessel owned by Abu Dhabi’s state oil company ADNOC while it was travelling through the strait.

ADNOC said there were no casualties in the latest attack but reported that more than a dozen of its vessels have been hit by missiles and drones since the US and Israel launched the war on Iran in February.

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The company said one crew member has been killed and 20 others injured in the attacks.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations centre also reported that another vessel near Khasab, Oman, was hit by a projectile that caused a fire.

The vessel and crew were reported safe.

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