‘Full compensation, US must correct behaviour’: Iran sets new demands to reopen Strait of Hormuz amid West Asia conflict

Iran has put forward a fresh set of demands for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global trade route that has become a major flashpoint in the ongoing conflict between Iran and the United States. Reopening the strait is seen as a key condition for any potential peace agreement between the two sides.

Iran has maintained that it will not reopen the waterway, which it effectively controls, until Washington changes what Tehran calls its hostile behaviour.

‘Full compensation, no threats’

The new demands were issued by Iran’s Supreme National Security Council and published by state media. The statement was issued by council secretary Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, a commander in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

According to the Associated Press, Tehran has demanded that the United States permanently abandon threats against Iran and end the war involving Iran and its allies across West Asia.

Iran has also called for the lifting of the US naval blockade on its ports and the withdrawal of American military forces from the region.

Other demands include “full compensation” for wartime damage, the “unconditional” release of Iranian assets frozen by the US and the lifting of sanctions.

Washington has yet to respond publicly to the demands. The US has been waiting for Tehran to agree to arrangements for reopening the Strait of Hormuz before lifting its naval blockade, which restricts vessels from entering or leaving Iranian ports.

Strait of Hormuz talks

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important energy corridors, carrying around 20% of global oil trade. The strategic waterway lies between Iran and Oman, with both countries involved in efforts to establish arrangements for safe navigation.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday that Tehran was close to reaching an agreement with Oman on navigation through the strait, but cautioned that reopening the waterway would depend on additional conditions.

“The opening of the Strait is subject to other conditions, including compensation for the US’s violations of the Islamabad Agreement,” Araghchi said.

Oman said negotiations with Iran were continuing in a “positive and constructive atmosphere”.

UAE ship attacked

The United Arab Emirates said a vessel owned by Abu Dhabi-based state oil and gas company ADNOC was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday morning.

ADNOC said there were no casualties in the incident and claimed that more than a dozen of its vessels had been attacked in the strait since the US-Iran war began earlier this year.

Vance: ‘We’re in the middle of the game’

US Vice President JD Vance said Saturday that progress had been made towards an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but stressed that it remained unclear whether any deal would meet Washington’s expectations.

“I try to remind people that we’re really in the middle of the game here,” Vance told Fox News.

He said the key question was whether Iran would agree to the measures needed for the United States to consider the negotiations successful.

“What we’re really working through now is how you can actually set up a traffic scheme so that the ships that pass can pass through safely,” Vance said.