US Demands Iran Publicly Commit to Halting Attacks in Strait of Hormuz

The United States is demanding that Iran make a public commitment to stop all attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and ensure the waterway remains open, senior U.S. officials said Friday. The demand comes amid escalating military exchanges in the critical maritime chokepoint, through which a fifth of the world's oil supply typically passes.

Washington's Conditions for De-escalation

Speaking to reporters, the officials outlined specific requirements for Tehran. "What we’re demanding is that the Iranians issue a public statement that acknowledges all channels of the Strait of Hormuz are open and they’re not shooting at ships anymore," one official stated, according to Reuters. The official added that failure to comply would not lead to a "good outcome for them."

According to one U.S. official, Iran has communicated to Washington that recent attacks on shipping lanes were the work of an "errant part of their system." The official also suggested that a power struggle may be underway between hardline and pragmatic factions within the Iranian government.

Recent Military Exchanges

The U.S. demands follow a volatile week in the region. Three commercial tankers from Qatar and Saudi Arabia came under fire, prompting retaliatory U.S. strikes on Iranian sites. Iran then responded with its own strikes on U.S. military installations in Gulf states, leading President Donald Trump to declare a ceasefire signed in June to be over.

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Despite the hostilities, diplomatic channels appear to remain open. Iran's official news agency, IRNA, reported that Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi is scheduled to travel to Oman on Saturday to discuss regional developments, with a particular focus on the situation in the strait.

Nuclear Material Remains a Sticking Point

Beyond the immediate maritime security issue, U.S. officials reiterated that a fundamental condition for any lasting agreement is the complete surrender of Iran's nuclear materials. Tehran is believed to possess more than 900 pounds of highly enriched uranium, which a U.S. official referred to as "nuclear dust."

These negotiations are reportedly taking place under a 60-day framework established by a memorandum of understanding signed in June. However, the U.S. position remains firm. "I just want to be clear here that if we don’t get the dust, we do not have a deal with Iran," an official said, warning that Washington has "a lot of options," including military and economic measures, if its demands are not met.