Iran Links Hormuz Reopening to US Conditions
Tehran says the strategic shipping route will remain closed until Washington meets seven conditions, as diplomatic efforts continue.
Iran has said the Strait of Hormuz will not reopen until the United States meets seven conditions outlined under a June interim agreement, according to remarks by Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf reported by state media on October 4, 2026. The statement comes days after Tehran received Washington’s response to an Iranian diplomatic proposal.
Qalibaf, Iran’s top negotiator, said Tehran’s position was firm and that the United States could no longer delay the diplomatic process or impose what Iran considers one-sided demands. The seven conditions are based on the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, which formed part of earlier efforts to halt the conflict.
Iran had presented a proposal during the United Nations General Assembly under which the strategic waterway could reopen and normal maritime passage resume within seven days if its conditions were met. Washington responded through Qatari intermediaries, although the two sides have yet to resolve their differences.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran had conveyed its broad position through mediators but still had additional points to communicate. He said Iran’s immediate focus was restoring security in the Strait of Hormuz and denied reports that Tehran had offered inspections of its nuclear facilities in exchange for sanctions relief. He said nuclear discussions with Washington had not begun.
The dispute centres partly on the sequencing of proposed steps to restore maritime traffic and address wider disagreements, including sanctions and Iran’s nuclear programme. Qatar has continued relaying messages between Washington and Tehran as diplomatic efforts seek to prevent a further escalation.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Tehran hoped the United States would choose diplomacy but warned that Iran was prepared to respond if Washington resumed military action. Iran’s military also indicated plans to increase the range of its missiles, underscoring the security risks surrounding the negotiations.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical international energy corridor through which roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies passed before the war began in late February. Continued disruption to the waterway threatens shipping and energy markets, making a negotiated reopening important for global trade.