Iran's Revolutionary Guards have stated they will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz until the United States complies with Tehran's list of demands. The demands include compensation for war damage and the lifting of sanctions. Iran has effectively blockaded the crucial energy conduit since the US and Israel attacked it in February, leading to a collapse of an April ceasefire. Mediators have urged both sides to return to the terms of a June memorandum that set out a path for peace talks.
Iran's security chief Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr outlined conditions for reopening the strait, including an end to the war and aggression against Iran and its allies, the lifting of a US counterblockade of Iranian ports, the end of sanctions, the release of frozen assets, and compensation for wartime damage. The Revolutionary Guards' strategy is to maintain the closure until the enemy accepts all conditions.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi denied that Iran was negotiating with the US, stating they were merely 'exchanging messages' via intermediaries. Traffic through Hormuz has dropped significantly amid ongoing attacks. The United Arab Emirates accused Iran of striking a tanker belonging to its national oil company as it transited the strait.
Oman's foreign ministry condemned 'repeated attacks on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz' and said ongoing negotiations regarding navigation arrangements in the strait were proceeding. The June Iran-US deal stipulated that Tehran and Muscat would discuss future arrangements for the strait with other Gulf countries and in line with international law.
As Iran throttles traffic in Hormuz, its Houthi allies in Yemen have declared a parallel maritime blockade on Saudi ports in the Red Sea. The Houthis announced they had struck a Saudi oil facility on the country's Red Sea coast. Saudi Arabia has long supported Yemen's internationally recognised government in its war against the Houthis, which was paused by a UN-backed 2022 accord that has appeared to break down since the rebels declared their blockade last month.





























