Iran throws wrench into Hormuz deal with new list of demands to US
A senior Iranian security official has presented a list of six demands to U.S. representatives prior to peace negotiations concerning the Strait of Hormuz, complicating the talks. Iranian National Security Council Secretary Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr stated that unless the U.S. modifies its behavior, the Strait will remain closed. His demands include halting threats against Iran, ending hostilities with several Middle Eastern entities, lifting sanctions, removing military forces from around Iran, paying damages for past conflicts, and unfreezing Iranian assets. These conditions threaten to disrupt efforts between Iran and Oman to reopen the Strait for commerce, with Iran tying any agreement to the U.S. response. Meanwhile, U.S. officials, including President Donald Trump, have expressed optimism about the negotiations, with Trump suggesting that a deal might be imminent. The situation reflects ongoing tensions and the complex dynamics influencing regional peace efforts.
A top Iranian national security official drew up a list of demands for U.S. officials to meet ahead of any peace deal on the Strait of Hormuz, throwing this week’s peace negotiations into flux.
Iranian National Security Council Secretary Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr released the statement with six demands through Iran’s state media, saying “until America corrects its behavior, the Strait of Hormuz will not open.” The Saturday statement comes one day after President Donald Trump announced from the Oval Office that he was involved in the peace talks over the strait, that the negotiations were going “very well,” and that a deal could be inked soon.
Recommended Stories
In his list of demands, Zolghadr demanded the U.S. not threaten Iran; end hostilities with Iran, Lebanon, Palestine, Yemen, and Iraq; terminate its naval blockade and remove all military forces around Iran; pay damages for the war and lift sanctions on the regime; and unfreeze Iranian assets.
The demands are likely to throw a wrench into negotiations between Iran and Oman to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to the free flow of commerce. Zolghadr is now hinging its agreement with Oman over the strait on the U.S.’s response to its demands.
The Washington Examiner has reached out to the White House for comment on Zolghadr’s statement.
Both U.S. sanctions against Iran and Iran’s frozen assets were addressed in the June memorandum of understanding, with full sanction relief being dependent on a full, final peace agreement between the two countries. According to the New York Times, U.S. officials have previously hinged the possibility of unfrozen Iranian assets on Tehran giving up all its enriched uranium.
The statement comes as the Trump administration had been projecting a positive outlook on the talks this week.
“I think we’re doing very well,” Trump said on Friday. “I’m involved in the negotiation. I think we’re doing fine. It could be, it could be soon.”
DAN CAINE LOOKING FOR ‘OFF-RAMP’ FOR IRAN WAR DUE TO LIMITED MILITARY OPTIONS: REPORT
Vice President JD Vance also addressed the Iran negotiations Saturday morning in an interview on Fox News‘s Saturday in America before Zolghadr’s statement.
“They want this thing to be over,” Vance said of Iran. “The question is whether they’re able, and their system is able, to give the things that are necessary for us to be happy, for us to feel like we’ve gotten what we need out of this particular engagement. That is still to be determined. But I do think we made some progress over the last few days.”
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
