Iran says Strait of Hormuz will remain closed pending US concessions
Iran said the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the United States accepts its conditions, including an end to the war and the release of frozen assets.
Tehran, Iran. Iran will keep the Strait of Hormuz closed until the United States changes its behaviour and accepts Tehran’s conditions for ending the war, newly appointed Supreme National Security Council secretary Mohsen Rezaei said on Tuesday.
Iran’s conditions
Rezaei, quoted by the semi-official Tasnim news agency, said the waterway would not reopen unless the United States met Iran’s demands.
“As long as America does not change its behaviour and does not accept Iran’s conditions, the Strait of Hormuz will not be opened,” he said.
He said Iran’s conditions included an end to the war, the release of frozen Iranian assets and an end to fighting across the region, including in Lebanon and Gaza.
Transit route talks
Rezaei said any agreement between Iran and Oman on a transit route through the strait would be separate from the decision on reopening the waterway.
His comments followed his appointment on Sunday as second in command of the body coordinating Iran’s security and foreign policy. He said Iran’s conditions had been conveyed to the United States through mediators.
Mohammad Mokhber, an adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, also said on Tuesday that Iran’s response to the conflict would continue and the strait would remain closed until its conditions were met.
Market and diplomatic response
Oil futures extended gains as uncertainty increased over the waterway, through which around one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies passed before the war.
Washington did not immediately respond to the latest Iranian statements. US President Donald Trump has demanded compensation from Iran for people killed in wars, attacks and protests, accusing Tehran of being “devious negotiators”.
“We’re going to ask for money for the damage they’ve done over a 50 year period,” Trump said on Monday.
Pakistan, one of the main mediators alongside Qatar, had earlier raised expectations of progress. Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said the two sides appeared to be “close to some sort of an arrangement”.
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