The Supreme National Security Council of Iran has set new conditions for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, asserting that the United States must accept them before the strategically important waterway is fully opened.
Council Secretary Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr stated on Saturday that the Strait will remain closed until Washington "corrects its behavior."
Iran's 6 Conditions for Opening the Strait of Hormuz
The six conditions include:
- The cessation of American threats against Iran and insults to what are considered the country's national and religious values,
- The definitive end of attacks against Iran and its allies in Lebanon, Palestine, Yemen, and Iraq,
- The lifting of the American naval blockade and the withdrawal of American naval and air forces from the region around Iran,
- The payment of reparations for damages caused by "imposed wars," as stated by Zolghadr,
- The lifting of sanctions,
- And the unconditional release of frozen Iranian assets.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran stated on Saturday that the reopening of Hormuz depends on Washington's acceptance of the conditions and is not related to negotiations between Iran and Oman.
"Whenever the United States accepts Iran's conditions, the Strait of Hormuz will certainly reopen," said IRGC spokesman Hossein Mohibi, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency.
Pezeshkian: "Now is the best time for a deal"
At the same time, President Masoud Pezeshkian supported efforts to reach an agreement, stating in a press conference with journalists broadcast by IRIB that he believes "now is the best time for a deal."
"There is cohesion, strength, and unity in the country, and, as far as I know, Iran is considered victorious and strong in this war," he said.
Pezeshkian stated that Tehran and Washington should have established a mechanism to address alleged violations of their previous memorandum, rather than allowing differences to lead to military confrontation again.
"We must see how we can resolve them now, if a solution is possible, something that efforts are being made for within the framework of negotiations in Oman," he said, adding that he hopes Iran can overcome the current situation of "neither war nor peace."
With information from Al Jazeera, Reuters
