Iran Escalates Hormuz Standoff, Warns Strait Won't Fully Reopen Until U.S. 'Corrects Its Behavior'

Iran's top national security official has stated that the Strait of Hormuz will not resume normal operations unless the United States meets a series of Iranian demands, raising questions about prospects for a full reopening of the critical shipping route despite ongoing diplomatic talks.

The statement comes as Iran reportedly moves toward a limited agreement with Oman that would establish a restricted maritime corridor for specific vessels - falling short of restoring full commercial traffic through the waterway.

Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council and former deputy commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, detailed Tehran's conditions for reopening the strait in a Saturday statement. Iran's demands include complete U.S. Military withdrawal from the region, an end to the American naval blockade, sanctions relief including release of frozen assets, financial compensation for war-related damage, and an end to attacks on Iranian regional allies.

"The Supreme National Security Council will never back down, neither in war nor in negotiations," Zolqadr said, according to Iran's state-run Tasnim News Agency.

Iran is also demanding permanent strategic control over the Strait of Hormuz and authority to impose transit fees of up to seven percent on vessels.

An Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps spokesman reinforced the position Saturday, stating that permanent reopening depends on Washington accepting Tehran's "legal and logical conditions." IRGC General Hossein Mohebbi said the reopening is contingent on Iran's specific mechanisms and conditions and is separate from Iran-Oman negotiations.

"Whenever the American side accepts the conditions of the Islamic Republic of Iran and abandons its interventionist approach, the conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz will certainly be provided," Mohebbi told reporters in Hormozgan Province.

These statements came amid discussions led by President Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff. Reports indicate the proposal under discussion would create a temporary shipping corridor jointly managed by Iran and Oman allowing limited vessel traffic without tolls or special permissions, along with a 60-day negotiating period aimed at a permanent conflict resolution, with the U.S. Agreeing to lift its naval blockade upon agreement signing.

President Trump recently suspended planned U.S. Strikes against Iranian energy facilities while warning that military action could resume if talks fail.

The United Arab Emirates condemned what it called a "hostile Iranian attack" After a missile struck an Abu Dhabi National Oil Company vessel transiting the strait early Saturday. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs characterized targeting commercial shipping as "an act of piracy" And called on Iran to halt attacks and show commitment to "complete and unconditional" Reopening of the waterway.

Commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz currently remains severely reduced, reported at less than 10 percent of pre-conflict volumes.