FOREIGN SCENE | THE ANALYST
Iran Sets Tough Conditions for Reopening Strait of Hormuz, Demands US War Compensation
TEHRAN — Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has warned that the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz will not be fully reopened until the United States meets Tehran’s conditions, including compensation for damages Iran says it suffered during the conflict.
The latest position threatens to prolong uncertainty around one of the world’s most important energy and maritime corridors, with the standoff between Tehran and Washington continuing to complicate efforts to restore normal commercial traffic.
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary, Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, outlined conditions for reopening the waterway, according to reports emerging from Tehran. The demands reportedly include an end to US military action and threats against Iran, the withdrawal of American forces from the region, the lifting of sanctions and the release of frozen Iranian assets.
Tehran is also demanding compensation for what it describes as damages caused by the war and guarantees against renewed US military intervention.
The IRGC subsequently reinforced the position, making clear that reopening the strait would depend on Washington meeting Tehran’s demands rather than simply on diplomatic discussions.
The Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the wider Arabian Sea, is a critical artery for global energy supplies. Any prolonged disruption to shipping through the waterway could have significant consequences for oil markets, shipping costs and energy prices worldwide.
Iran’s position therefore raises the stakes in the ongoing confrontation with the United States. Washington has yet to accept Tehran’s demands, while the two sides remain sharply divided over the terms required to end the wider conflict and restore unrestricted maritime traffic.
The development also places additional pressure on international mediators seeking a diplomatic settlement. A reopening of the strait has become one of the central issues in efforts to de-escalate the confrontation, but Tehran’s latest demands suggest that negotiations could be difficult and protracted.
For global markets, the immediate concern remains the security and predictability of commercial shipping through the waterway. Prolonged restrictions could increase transportation and insurance costs and place further pressure on economies heavily dependent on Middle Eastern energy supplies.
The latest Iranian declaration underscores the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz — and demonstrates how control over the waterway has become a major bargaining instrument in the wider US-Iran confrontation.
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Source: Reports from Iranian officials and international media.