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

The United States is demanding that Iran issue a public declaration committing to an end of attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, senior U.S. officials said Friday. The demand comes as diplomatic conversations continue amid heightened military exchanges in the strategically vital waterway.

Washington's Conditions

Speaking to reporters in a conference call, the officials stated that the U.S. requires a formal statement from Tehran acknowledging that all channels in the strait will remain open and that attacks will cease. "They’re either going to give us that statement or we’re not having a good outcome for them," one official said, according to Reuters.

The officials noted that Iran has communicated to Washington that recent attacks on tankers were from an "errant part of their system." U.S. officials also perceive a "power struggle unfolding in real time between hardliners in Iran and pragmatists."

Geopolitical and Market Context

The U.S. demand follows a volatile week in which three Qatari and Saudi commercial tankers came under fire. The incident prompted U.S. retaliatory strikes on Iranian sites, which were followed by Iranian strikes on U.S. military sites in Gulf states. U.S. President Donald Trump has since declared that a ceasefire signed by the two countries in June is over.

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The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for global energy markets, with one-fifth of the world's oil supply typically passing through the waterway. Any disruption poses a significant risk to global energy prices and economic stability. In a sign of potential diplomatic movement, Iran’s official news agency IRNA reported that Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi will travel to Oman on Saturday for talks on regional developments.

Broader Nuclear Negotiations

The standoff in the Gulf is linked to a much larger U.S. objective concerning Iran's nuclear program. An official described the "fundamental demand" as Iran turning over its nuclear materials. Tehran is believed to possess more than 900 pounds of highly enriched uranium, which U.S. officials have termed "nuclear dust."

These nuclear discussions are intended to be held within a 60-day negotiation period established by a memorandum of understanding signed 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, adding that the U.S. has "a lot of options," including military and economic measures, if its demands are not met.