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

The United States is demanding a public declaration from Iran that it will stop all attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and guarantee free passage, senior U.S. officials said Friday. The condition comes amid escalating military exchanges in the waterway, which is a critical chokepoint for global energy supplies.

Washington's Conditions

Speaking to reporters on a conference call, one senior official outlined the specific U.S. requirement. "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," the official said. Washington also insists that all shipping lanes remain open without the imposition of tolls.

Despite the ultimatum, the officials described recent conversations between the two countries as productive. They noted that Iran has reportedly explained the recent attacks as originating from an "errant part of their system," which one official interpreted as a sign of an internal power struggle between hardliners and pragmatists in Tehran.

Escalating Military Action

The demands follow a week of heightened conflict after three Qatari and Saudi commercial tankers came under fire. The incident prompted U.S. strikes on Iranian sites, which were followed by Iranian retaliatory strikes on U.S. military positions in Gulf states. Following the exchanges, U.S. President Donald Trump declared that a ceasefire agreement signed in June is now over.

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While tensions remain high, a diplomatic track is being pursued. Iran's official IRNA news agency reported that Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi will travel to Oman on Saturday for talks on regional developments, with a focus on the situation in the strait.

Link to Broader Nuclear Talks

U.S. officials explicitly linked the maritime security issue to larger negotiations over Iran's nuclear program. A fundamental U.S. demand is for Tehran to surrender its stockpile of more than 900 pounds of highly enriched uranium, a matter to be resolved under a 60-day negotiation period agreed to in June.

"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 stated, threatening both military and economic options if Tehran does not comply. The Strait of Hormuz is a strategic chokepoint for about a fifth of the world's oil supply, and instability in the region poses a significant risk of disruption to global energy markets.