Iran demands U.S. withdrawal, reparations to reopen Hormuz

Iran's Supreme National Security Council on Saturday issued a sweeping set of demands that the United States must meet before Tehran will allow the Strait of Hormuz to reopen, injecting fresh uncertainty into the Trump administration's efforts to bring the five-month-old conflict to a close as midterm elections loom.

Tehran's Maximalist Terms

Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council and a former senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander, said the strait "will not be reopened" until Washington "corrects its behavior." His demands include an end to U.S. military action against Iran and its regional allies, withdrawal of American naval and air forces from the area, lifting of the naval blockade and all sanctions, full compensation for war damages, and unconditional release of frozen Iranian assets.breitbart+3

The conditions go well beyond the mechanics of a navigation agreement Iran has been negotiating with Oman. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Saturday that a temporary shipping framework was close to completion but stressed it would not itself reopen the strait. "Reopening the strait is contingent upon other conditions," Araghchi told reporters.breitbart

IRGC General Hossein Mohebbi reinforced that position, saying the reopening is "completely independent" of the Oman talks and would come only after Washington accepts Tehran's terms.breitbart

Attacks Continue Amid Diplomacy

Hours before Zolghadr's statement, the United Arab Emirates accused Iran of striking an Abu Dhabi National Oil Company tanker with a missile as it transited Hormuz. No casualties were reported. ADNOC said 15 of its vessels have been attacked since the war began on February 28, killing one crew member and injuring 20 others.khaleejtimes+2

Oman, which is mediating the navigation talks, condemned the "repeated attacks" and warned they could jeopardize negotiations.breitbart

'Middle of the Game'

Vice President JD Vance acknowledged Saturday that Washington remains far from a resolution. "We're really in the middle of the game here," Vance told Fox News ↗ 3.00%, adding that the administration is "applying a whole host of tools — diplomatic, economic, military tools — to ensure that we get the best outcome for the American people."thehill+1

Vance said Iran is "hurting in a big way" under the U.S. blockade but that the open question is "whether their system is able to give the things that are necessary for us to be happy."foxnews+1

According to The Wall Street Journal News Corp ↘ 4.19%, Trump had been preparing to announce a victory in the conflict if Tehran fully reopened the strait, even telling advisers he might abandon pursuit of a nuclear deal. Iran's new demands have disrupted that timeline as the White House looks toward November.wsj