Mohsen Rezaei, the newly appointed secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, declared that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the United States alters its behavior and agrees to Iran’s terms for ending the ongoing war. This statement marks the strongest indication yet that any negotiations involving Oman over the strategic waterway would not lead to its reopening unless the US fulfills its commitments outlined in the June memorandum of understanding with Tehran.
Rezaei, a close confidant of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, emphasized that the US must cease hostilities, release Iran’s frozen assets, and ensure the conflict ends across the region, including in Lebanon and Gaza. He clarified that any agreement between Iran and Oman regarding transit through the Strait would be separate from the issue of its closure.
Appointed on Sunday as the second-in-command of the council responsible for coordinating Iran’s security and foreign policy, Rezaei noted that Iran’s conditions have been communicated to the US through intermediaries. Mohammad Mokhber, an adviser to Khamenei, reinforced this stance on social media, stating that the Strait will remain closed until Iran’s demands are met and that the punishment of the aggressor continues.
Concerns over the strait’s status have driven oil futures higher. While Washington has yet to respond directly to Iran’s latest remarks, President Donald Trump has introduced a new demand for Iran to compensate victims of wars, attacks, and protests, accusing Tehran of being deceptive negotiators. Speaking at the White House, Trump said the US would seek reparations for damages caused over the past 50 years.
In a recent interview, Trump outlined his options regarding the conflict, ranging from allowing Iran to fail economically to imposing severe military measures. He described the ongoing talks as negotiations with “very devious negotiators,” alternating between threats of escalation and suggestions that a peace deal might be near.
Meanwhile, Pakistan, a key mediator alongside Qatar, had expressed optimism about progress toward reopening the vital waterway, which previously handled a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments. Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif indicated that recent signals suggested an arrangement might be close.
The conflict has resulted in thousands of deaths, primarily in Iran and Lebanon, following US and Israeli attacks on Iran since February 28. Iran has retaliated by targeting US assets and infrastructure in several countries, including Oman, Jordan, Kuwait, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia.
Adding to the tension, new attacks on maritime vessels have been reported in the Gulf of Oman and the Red Sea, underscoring the risks to international shipping. Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis allegedly attacked a small cargo ship in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait on Tuesday, killing four crew members. If confirmed, these would be the first fatalities from a Houthi strike on shipping since the conflict began. The Houthis have not claimed responsibility.
Additionally, a container ship was reportedly struck by a missile off Pakistan while transiting the Gulf of Oman, in what sources described as a suspected US attack. A US official reportedly confirmed that the vessel was targeted by a US military helicopter after its crew ignored warnings related to the naval blockade of Iranian ports.
The US initially imposed a blockade on shipping to Iranian ports in April, reinstating it in July after the June peace agreement collapsed. In response, the Houthis declared a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea on July 20, citing a Saudi siege, which Riyadh denies.
