Iran sets strict conditions for reopening Strait of Hormuz, dampening hopes for de-escalation
A senior Iranian official, Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, announced on Saturday, August 8, 2026, that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the United States changes its behavior. Iran demands that Washington end its aggression against Iran and its allies, lift the blockade on Iranian ports, remove US sanctions, release frozen assets, and provide full compensation for damages from the American-Israeli offensive that began on February 28. These conditions contradict recent reports of progress in discussions between Iran and Oman regarding the strait's management. While some of these demands were part of a June Iranian-American memorandum of understanding that established a ceasefire and allowed traffic resumption, that truce collapsed in early July, leading to renewed US strikes and Iranian retaliation. The Strait of Hormuz, crucial for global hydrocarbon trade, is currently locked down by Iran, which targets vessels entering without authorization. Tehran refuses to return to the pre-war situation and intends to impose service fees, a move the US opposes. Despite this, Iran recently claimed an agreement with Oman on a transit route for ships. Oman's Foreign Ministry stated on Saturday that negotiations are positive but condemned repeated attacks, urging restraint. Abu Dhabi reported that an Emirati national oil company tanker was hit by a missile in the strait, attributing the attack to Iran. Iran has not commented on thes