US Demands Iran Publicly Guarantee Safe Passage in Strait of Hormuz, Officials Say

The United States is demanding that Iran make a public declaration that it will stop attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and ensure the waterway remains open to all shipping, senior U.S. officials said Friday.

The officials, speaking to reporters on a conference call, stated that recent conversations with Tehran have been productive but that a public commitment is a firm requirement for de-escalation.

US Outlines Conditions

Washington's core demand centers on freedom of navigation in the strategic chokepoint, through which a fifth of the world's oil supply typically passes. The demand follows a week of heightened tensions where three Qatari and Saudi commercial tankers came under fire, prompting retaliatory strikes from both the U.S. and Iran.

"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 said. "They’re either going to give us that statement or we’re not having a good outcome for them."

Nuclear Materials Remain Key Obstacle

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Beyond maritime security, the officials reiterated that the fundamental U.S. demand is for Iran to surrender its stockpile of nuclear materials. Tehran is believed to possess over 900 pounds of highly enriched uranium, which U.S. officials refer to as "nuclear dust."

This issue is a central part of 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 military and economic options remain on the table.

Diplomatic Efforts and Context

According to one U.S. official, Iran has communicated to Washington that the recent attacks stemmed from "an errant part of their system," suggesting a possible internal power struggle. In a sign of ongoing diplomatic efforts, Iran’s official news agency IRNA reported that Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi will travel to Oman on Saturday for talks on regional developments.

U.S. President Donald Trump has recently declared that a ceasefire agreed to in June is now over, underscoring the fragility of the situation. Any disruption to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz poses a significant risk of volatility for global energy markets.