Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has called for an end to what he described as a state of “neither war nor peace” with the United States, saying Saturday that Iran was in a position of strength and that the moment was right for an agreement.
His remarks came as Iran and Oman pursued an arrangement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway through which about one-fifth of global oil shipments transited in peacetime. Tehran has de facto imposed a blockade since the United States and Israel began a war on Iran on February 28, a conflict that has killed more than 3,400 people, according to the supplied source material.
At a glance:
- Pezeshkian said Iran and Washington should have created a channel to handle violations of their June memorandum of understanding.
- Iran and Oman are discussing a temporary shipping route, with Iran overseeing vessels entering the Gulf and Oman managing traffic heading out.
- Iranian officials say reopening Hormuz depends on US acceptance of Iranian conditions, including compensation and broader political and economic concessions.
- Iran’s Supreme National Security Council has listed six conditions, ranging from ending attacks and lifting sanctions to releasing frozen Iranian assets.
What Pezeshkian said
Pezeshkian told Iranian media that Iran had cohesion, strength and unity and was considered “victorious and powerful” in the war. He said the two countries should have formed a team to address ceasefire violations rather than allowing them to lead to further fighting.
Related coverage: Iran-Oman Talks Show Progress on Strait of Hormuz Shipping.
The president said the issues were now being worked on through negotiations in Oman and expressed hope that Iran could leave the state of neither war nor peace. His comments present an agreement as a possible way to manage violations and end the current deadlock.
What is happening in the Strait of Hormuz
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Sunday that discussions with Oman over transit and management of the strait were approaching their final stages. He said the talks concerned a temporary route and that the parties were close to a result; Tehran also said it had agreed coordinates for new shipping routes with Oman.
A proposed arrangement would have Iran oversee vessels entering the Gulf while Oman managed traffic heading out. Araghchi said reopening the waterway remained subject to other conditions and compensation for what Iran described as violations of the June memorandum. He denied that Iran was negotiating directly with the US, describing the contacts as messages exchanged through intermediaries.
More context: Iran Attacks Tankers in Hormuz Strait as US War Efforts Stall.
The conditions complicating a deal
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said the strait would remain closed until Washington corrected its behaviour. Its six listed conditions are an end to US threats and alleged insults to Iran’s national and religious values; a permanent halt to attacks on Iran and its allies in Lebanon, Palestine, Yemen and Iraq; and the lifting of the US naval blockade and withdrawal of US naval and air forces from around Iran.
The demands also include compensation for damage from what the council secretary called two imposed wars, the lifting of global sanctions and the unconditional release of frozen Iranian assets. These terms connect the reopening of Hormuz to wider military, political and economic demands beyond the June memorandum.
The main sticking points
The waterway is an immediate obstacle because the US opposes giving Iran unilateral control over shipping and has objected to proposed fees. Iran regards control over transit as important leverage, while traffic has fallen significantly as Iran targets ships it accuses of avoiding its preferred route through Iranian waters.
Also read: Iran uses ceasefire to rebuild military strength while Hormuz deal remains uncertain.
Economic pressure is another barrier. Tehran says reopening Hormuz without meaningful relief would surrender a major bargaining tool without receiving enough in return. Araghchi said US compensation for war damage, alongside other conditions, must be met before the strait reopens.
The security situation also remains unsettled. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency said Saturday that a ship was hit by a projectile off Oman in the Strait of Hormuz, causing a fire that was extinguished without casualties. The source material said it was unclear who carried out the attack.
Questions readers ask
Is Iran negotiating directly with the United States?
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi denied that direct negotiations were taking place, saying Iran and the US were exchanging messages through intermediaries while talks with Oman continued.
What would be required before the Strait of Hormuz reopens?
Iranian officials have cited several requirements, including US acceptance of Iranian conditions, compensation for war damage, an end to attacks and threats, removal of the naval blockade, sanctions relief and the release of frozen assets.
Why does Hormuz matter?
About one-fifth of global oil shipments transited the strait in peacetime, making arrangements for shipping there a central part of the discussions.
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