Iran has outlined a series of demands for reopening the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, potentially complicating efforts to restore normal shipping through the key global energy route.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said negotiations with Oman over the management and transit of the strait were nearing their final stages but stressed that reopening the waterway would depend on additional conditions, including compensation for wartime damage.
Iran’s security chief, Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, listed several demands, including an end to what Tehran describes as aggression against Iran and its allies in Lebanon, Palestine, Yemen and Iraq. The demands also include lifting the US naval blockade, removing sanctions, releasing frozen Iranian assets and providing compensation for damage caused during the conflict.
The Iranian Revolutionary Guards separately insisted that the reopening of the strait was not solely dependent on negotiations with Oman, saying the United States and its allies would have to accept Iran’s conditions.
Meanwhile, tensions have continued to rise around the waterway, with several vessels reportedly coming under attack. The United Arab Emirates condemned an alleged missile attack on an ADNOC tanker, while the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported that another vessel was hit by a projectile off Oman, causing a fire.
ADNOC said 15 of its vessels had been attacked in the Strait of Hormuz since the beginning of the conflict, including three within one week.
Oman has condemned attacks on vessels using the strait while maintaining that negotiations over navigation arrangements are progressing positively. The country has urged all parties to avoid actions that could undermine diplomatic efforts.
The Strait of Hormuz is a crucial global shipping route, particularly for energy supplies, making its continued disruption a major concern for international markets and the global economy.
