Iran demands US fulfill seven conditions before reopening Strait of Hormuz

Seven conditions for maritime passage

Iranian parliament speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf announced on Sunday that the Strait of Hormuz will not reopen until the United States fulfills seven preconditions established under the June Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding. Ghalibaf stated that Iran is neither enthusiastic nor intimidated by American actions, asserting that Tehran is prepared to fight on the battlefield with new tactics while pursuing diplomatic channels to secure Iranian rights.

“The position of the Islamic Republic of Iran is completely clear and firm, and the Strait of Hormuz will not be opened until our seven conditions, based on the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, are met.”

Tehran delivered its list of demands to Washington through Qatari intermediaries. The seven conditions include an end to the US naval blockade on Iranian ports and commercial vessels, the termination of the ban on Iranian oil exports, the unfreezing of Iranian financial assets abroad, and the removal of all economic sanctions. Tehran further demands a complete halt to military actions against Iran and its regional allies, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, an end to US interference in Iranian domestic affairs, and a cessation of Washington's strategic cooperation with Iran's regional adversaries.

Diplomatic exchanges through Qatari mediation

During the United Nations General Assembly in September, Iranian officials proposed a seven-day confidence-building roadmap to restore regular navigation through the waterway within a week if Washington implemented the required terms. Qatari mediators delivered the formal US reply to Tehran during the preceding week. An official briefed on the discussions indicated that the core dispute between the two governments involves the sequencing of the agreed steps rather than the specific contents of the framework.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei stated that the American propositions largely repeated previous US positions, particularly regarding nuclear matters. Baghaei reiterated that Tehran's immediate diplomatic priority is establishing security in the Strait of Hormuz, which handled 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments before the war began. Baghaei also denied that Iran proposed International Atomic Energy Agency inspections of its nuclear facilities in exchange for sanctions relief, stating that formal nuclear negotiations have not taken place during this phase.

Military readiness and responses in Washington

Addressing foreign diplomats in Tehran on Sunday, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghtschi emphasized that while Iran prefers a negotiated resolution, its armed forces are prepared for potential military escalation.

“If they choose military options again, we are better prepared than before and will take all necessary measures to defend ourselves.”

Iranian army spokesperson Mohammad Akraminia confirmed on Sunday that Iran has taken concrete steps to extend the operational range of its missile arsenal. Akraminia noted that wartime assessments prompted the expansion because US military forces currently operate up to 1,000 kilometers from the Iranian coastline. On Saturday, US President Donald Trump stated that Iran had been decimated and asserted that an impending decision would determine whether the outcome follows an easy or hard path. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that the Pentagon maintains all operational options open. Direct US strikes on Iranian territory have paused since September 1, though maritime attacks against vessels in the Strait of Hormuz continue.