Tehran, Aug 2026 : Iran has warned that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed unless the United States accepts Tehran’s conditions and returns to the terms of a June memorandum of understanding, even as separate negotiations with Oman seek to establish a temporary framework for commercial shipping through the strategic waterway.
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps spokesman Brigadier General Hossein Mohebbi said Iran was prepared to reopen the strait under the existing understanding if Washington ended what Tehran describes as interference and fulfilled its commitments.
“If the United States stops obstructing and returns to the agreement, we can open the Strait of Hormuz within the framework of the agreement reached,” Mohebbi said, according to Iranian state media.
He warned that if Washington rejected Iran’s conditions, the waterway would not be reopened.
The statement came a day after Iranian and Omani officials announced an understanding on a temporary shipping route through the strait. However, both sides stressed that the arrangement did not constitute a formal reopening of the waterway.
The Strait of Hormuz, located between Iran and Oman and linking the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman, is among the world’s most important maritime energy corridors. Before the current conflict, more than one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments passed through the waterway. Commercial traffic has been severely disrupted since hostilities began in February.
Iran Links Reopening to US Commitments
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said Tehran’s conditions extend beyond simply lifting the US naval blockade.
According to Gharibabadi, Washington must fulfil its commitments under the Islamabad memorandum, including ending the economic blockade, bringing military operations to a permanent halt and providing assurances that Iran will not face further threats or attacks.
Tehran is also demanding action concerning the blockade affecting Yemen and guarantees against additional military operations, he said in a televised interview.
Iran has repeatedly accused the United States of violating the June understanding and argues that Washington’s failure to implement its commitments contributed to the collapse of the agreement.
The memorandum, signed in Islamabad in June with Pakistan’s mediation and support from regional partners, was intended to halt hostilities and establish a framework for wider negotiations between Washington and Tehran. Its provisions included arrangements concerning the Strait of Hormuz, sanctions and restrictions imposed during the conflict.
However, the two sides have since sharply disagreed over implementation. Iran maintains that the United States must fulfil its obligations before Tehran agrees to fully restore maritime traffic.
Temporary Commercial Corridor Proposed
Meanwhile, Iran and Oman have been negotiating for several weeks over arrangements for commercial shipping through the strait.
Gharibabadi said the two countries had reached an understanding in principle on a temporary maritime corridor approximately seven nautical miles wide. Under the proposed arrangement, commercial vessels entering the Persian Gulf from the Gulf of Oman would pass through Iranian territorial waters, while a portion of the outbound route would use Omani waters.
He emphasised that the arrangement was temporary and should not be interpreted as the complete reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
Further discussions are expected to focus on establishing a permanent maritime traffic system, with negotiations potentially continuing for another 30 to 60 days.
The proposed corridor would apply only to commercial vessels. Military ships would not be permitted to use it.
Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said he was hopeful that Tehran and Muscat would soon announce a temporary corridor and practical measures designed to facilitate safe navigation. Longer-term arrangements for managing the waterway would be discussed separately.
However, a senior Iranian source told Reuters that a final agreement between Iran and Oman had not yet been concluded. The report indicated that negotiations were continuing over issues including control of the waterway and the distribution of revenues generated by maritime traffic.
Tehran Insists on Control
Mohebbi said Iran had been negotiating with Oman for around a month and that discussions had produced understandings concerning the respective shares of the two countries in managing the waterway and maritime revenues.
He reiterated that the Strait of Hormuz remained under Iranian control and claimed that hostile military vessels had moved at least 400 kilometres away from the waterway.
“No vessel is capable of transiting this waterway without Iran’s permission and management,” he said.
Iran has also introduced additional requirements for commercial vessels seeking to pass through the strait. Ships are required to register with Iranian authorities, obtain transit permits and comply with routes designated by Tehran.
These measures underline Iran’s determination to retain a decisive role in managing maritime traffic even while it negotiates with Oman on a longer-term framework.
US-Iran Confrontation Deepens
The dispute over Hormuz has become a major component of the wider confrontation between Washington and Tehran.
The United States has imposed a naval blockade around Iranian ports while maintaining extensive economic sanctions. Iran, meanwhile, has used its control over the Strait of Hormuz as a major source of strategic and diplomatic leverage.
US President Donald Trump has warned Oman against obstructing Washington’s objectives, adding another layer of tension to the emerging Iran-Oman maritime arrangement.
The crisis has also prompted Pakistan to intensify diplomatic efforts to revive the June understanding. Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, travelled to Tehran earlier this week as part of efforts to help overcome the diplomatic impasse.
Iranian officials have continued to insist that any reopening of Hormuz must be linked to Washington’s compliance with the June memorandum.
Global Energy Risks
The uncertainty surrounding the strait has significant implications for international energy markets. Hormuz is a crucial export route for oil and gas producers in the Gulf, and prolonged disruption could increase transportation costs, affect global supplies and place additional pressure on energy prices.
Shipping companies and governments have already been forced to consider alternative routes and supply arrangements because of the disruption.
For Tehran, however, the question of reopening the waterway is closely tied to the broader conflict rather than being viewed simply as a commercial or maritime issue.
Iran has made clear that it does not intend to surrender control of the strategic waterway merely in return for the lifting of the US naval blockade. Instead, it is seeking a broader political settlement that would include an end to military operations, relief from economic pressure and assurances against renewed attacks.
The proposed temporary corridor with Oman could provide limited relief for commercial shipping, but it falls short of a full reopening.
With negotiations continuing and Washington yet to accept Tehran’s demands, the future of the Strait of Hormuz remains uncertain. For now, Iran’s message is clear: the reopening of one of the world’s most important energy arteries remains tied to the wider US-Iran confrontation and the fulfilment of commitments Tehran says Washington has yet to honour.
(Disclaimer :The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)
