Iran Says Hormuz Strait Deal in 'Final Stages' but Demands U.S. Concessions for Reopening

Iran announced on Sunday that an agreement with Oman to define new shipping lanes in the strategic Strait of Hormuz is in its final stages. However, officials reiterated that the vital waterway, which Iran previously blocked, would only reopen after the United States meets a series of demanding conditions.

Details of the Potential Agreement

The deal, brokered with Oman, would establish new maritime routes through the strait, a chokepoint for approximately a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments before its closure. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi confirmed the agreement was in its "final stages" but emphasized it lays the groundwork for operations *after* U.S. conditions are met, according to Iran’s Mehr news agency.

Direct negotiations between Tehran and Washington are not occurring. Araqchi stated that messages are being passed through intermediaries, as Iran will not engage in talks while the U.S. is in breach of an interim deal signed in June.

Iran's Conditions for Reopening

Iranian officials have publicly outlined several significant concessions required from the United States before commercial shipping can resume through the strait. Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr, the secretary of Iran’s top national security body, listed a comprehensive set of demands, including:

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• U.S. compensation to Iran for damages from widespread attacks.
• A complete end to U.S. threats and aggression against Iran and its regional allies.
• The lifting of all U.S. sanctions and the blockade on Iran.
• The release of all frozen Iranian assets.

An anonymous U.S. official told Reuters on Friday that Washington would lift its blockade of Iranian ports once a deal is announced to restore shipping. However, the official stressed that U.S. actions would be directly tied to Iran’s implementation of its commitments, suggesting a complex and delicate sequencing of events is still under discussion.

Broader Regional Tensions

The diplomatic maneuvering occurs amid heightened regional conflict. Iran's allies, the Yemen-based Houthis, claimed responsibility for a drone attack on Saudi Aramco’s Jazan refinery on Sunday. The Saudi energy ministry confirmed a fire at the facility, which processes 400,000 barrels of crude oil per day, but reported no injuries.

This follows increased Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and a new defense pact signed by Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan. Separately, the United Arab Emirates said Saturday that Iran had attacked a ship affiliated with its state oil company, a claim Tehran has not immediately commented on.