Iran presents strict demands for reopening of Strait of Hormuz

Iran has presented new and drastic demands regarding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, while the United Arab Emirates announced that one of its ships had been targeted by an Iranian missile. 

Iran's top decision-making body, known as the Supreme National Security Council, has declared that the Strait of Hormuz will not open until the United States "corrects its behavior," presenting new demands that could fundamentally change talks on an agreement on managing this waterway.

Iran's state broadcaster published the statement by the council's secretary, Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, who is also a commander in the powerful Revolutionary Guard.

The statement said the United States should never threaten Iran again and should permanently end war with Iran and its armed allies in the region. The US should lift the naval blockade of Iranian ports and withdraw its military forces from the area. It should "fully compensate" Iran for war damages, lift sanctions, and unfreeze frozen assets "unconditionally."

The US, which had initially demanded an acceptable agreement on the strait before ending the blockade, has not yet commented on these demands. 

Under the interim agreement signed in June, a timetable for lifting sanctions and a compensation plan would be part of the final agreement, while negotiations would address the issue of frozen assets.

Iran has stated that it is close to reaching a special agreement with Oman for the management of the strait, which lies between the two countries.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said earlier on Saturday that the parties were close to reaching an agreement on navigation. However, the reopening of the waterway depends on other conditions, he said in statements published on social media, attributing the situation to what he called a US violation of the interim agreement.

Oman, a Gulf Arab state that has served as a mediator and has said relatively little about the talks, said discussions were proceeding "in a positive and constructive atmosphere" and condemned attacks on ships in the strait.

Iran has imposed a de facto blockade of the strait and seeks to charge users for passage, repeatedly attacking ships it accuses of trying to avoid its preferred route.
The US opposes any Iranian tariffs in the strait, although the June deal allows them

Tehran to determine modalities for the "future administration" of Hormuz in cooperation with Oman, the other coastal state

The 60-day deadline for negotiating a final agreement ends in a little over a week, but could be extended.