Iran says 'Strait of Hormuz will not reopen as long as US naval blockade continues'

Iran on Monday said the Strait of Hormuz would not be reopened as long as the United States continues its naval blockade against the country, linking the restoration of normal shipping through the strategic waterway to a change in Washington's approach. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran's position on the Strait remained unchanged and accused the US of maintaining a naval blockade against Iran. “As long as the US naval blockade against Iran continues, the Strait of Hormuz will not reopen,” Baghaei said, according to Iranian media. The statement comes amid efforts to negotiate arrangements for restoring maritime traffic through one of the world's most important energy shipping routes. Iran has repeatedly insisted that reopening the Strait would depend on the US meeting a series of conditions.

Talks with Oman continue

Iran has been holding discussions with Oman over a mechanism for maritime traffic through the Strait. Baghaei said the talks were proceeding constructively, while indicating that negotiations were focused on broader arrangements governing shipping and navigation. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said Iran is nearing a final agreement with Oman on new shipping lanes. However, Tehran has maintained that implementation of such an arrangement would remain contingent on Washington addressing Iranian demands. Iran has laid down several conditions for fully reopening the Strait, including an end to the US naval blockade, lifting of sanctions, release of frozen Iranian assets and compensation for damage caused during the conflict. Tehran has also demanded an end to military threats and the withdrawal of US forces from the region. Baghaei, meanwhile, played down reports about discussions over possible transit fees for vessels passing through the Strait, saying Iran and Oman were not discussing such details at the current stage.

Strategic waterway remains at centre of standoff

The Strait of Hormuz has emerged as a central point of leverage in the continuing confrontation between Iran and the United States. The narrow waterway connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and is a critical route for global energy supplies. The continuing disruption has heightened concerns over international shipping and energy markets, with any prolonged restriction on traffic carrying potentially significant consequences for oil and liquefied natural gas supplies. Iran has maintained that Washington must alter its policies before normal navigation can resume. The US, meanwhile, has faced pressure to secure freedom of navigation through the Strait amid the wider regional conflict. Tehran's latest statement underlines the continuing deadlock, despite progress in its discussions with Oman. Iran has made clear that technical arrangements for shipping will not by themselves result in the full reopening of the Strait unless its broader conditions concerning the United States are addressed.