Iran says Hormuz to remain closed until US meets conditions

Iranian officials have said the Strait of Hormuz will stay closed until the United States accepts Tehran’s seven-condition proposal for reopening the waterway, state-linked Nournews reported. Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf told the agency that Washington had sent “some proposals through a mediator” after replying to Iran’s diplomatic offer, but that Tehran’s position remains firm and non-negotiable without acceptance of its terms.

Baghalif warned that the era of unilateral demands and delay was over, reiterating that the strait would not reopen until Iran’s seven conditions, drawn from the Islamabad memorandum, were met. He said Iran is active “on the military battlefield” and suggested the country could respond with “new surprises,” while also stating that Iran would pursue both negotiation and combat if necessary.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi spoke to diplomats in Tehran, saying Iran was serious about diplomatic solutions and had clearly set out its conditions for reopening the strait. However, he cautioned that if the United States carried out military action again, Iran would be more prepared than before and would take necessary defensive steps, according to the report.

Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran used the UN General Assembly platform last month to present its position on ending the US-Israel war on Iran, and added that while the US has been focused on nuclear talks, Iran’s principal concern is restoring peace and stability in the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway has been largely disrupted for more than seven months following strikes by the US and Israel on Iran on February 28, a period that has generated one of the most serious maritime shipping disruptions in decades.