Iran says it will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz until the United States ends its military campaign and naval blockade against Iranian ports, releases Iranian funds held abroad and agrees to a region-wide ceasefire covering Lebanon and Gaza.
The position was reiterated as Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi visited Tehran to discuss efforts to end the conflict, while attacks involving US forces and Yemen’s Houthis added to risks for shipping in the Gulf and Red Sea.
Iran sets out the reopening conditions
Mohsen Rezaei, the newly appointed head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, conveyed the conditions to China’s ambassador in Tehran, according to Iranian media. In a post on X, Rezaei said the Strait would remain closed until all of them were met.
The conditions are an end to the US war and blockade, the release of Iran’s frozen assets and a regional ceasefire that includes Lebanon and Gaza. Washington had not immediately commented on the statement.
Related coverage: Mohsen Rezaei takes Iran’s top security post amid Hormuz talks.
Pakistan and Qatar pursue mediation
Naqvi met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Iran’s presidency said the discussions covered closer political, economic, trade, cultural and security ties as Islamabad worked to mediate an end to the conflict.
Qatar said separate talks between Iran and Oman on shipping routes in the Strait had reached an advanced stage, citing positive statements from both capitals. Iran said any agreement with Oman on routes would not itself reopen the waterway. Qatar identified reopening the Strait, maintaining a ceasefire and advancing negotiations as its main priorities.
Shipping incidents deepen the regional crisis
US Central Command said a US Navy MH-60 helicopter fired two Hellfire missiles at a Panama-flagged cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz after it allegedly ignored repeated warnings over violations of the US naval blockade of Iranian ports.
More context: Why the Strait of Hormuz talks are becoming harder to resolve.
In the Bab al-Mandeb strait, four crew members were killed in a suspected Houthi attack on the Egyptian-owned Tihamah, according to Yemen’s Transport Ministry. Yemen’s coastguard said two rescuers from an anti-Houthi military group were also killed. The Houthi-run Saba news agency separately reported an attack on a Saudi ship carrying military equipment, but did not identify the vessel and there was no immediate Saudi response.
The developments came as the US-Israel war on Iran continued despite repeated claims by US President Donald Trump that a deal was close. Trump said in a late-Monday interview that the uncertainty could continue for some time and described himself as negotiating.
Also read: Iran-Oman Hormuz arrangement nears agreement, but reopening depends on the US.
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