Iran doubles down on new conditions to open Hormuz, denies it’s negotiating with US

Iran's IRGC said it will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz until the US meets conditions including compensation for war damages. Foreign Minister Araghchi said talks with Oman are nearing completion but reopening is subject to other conditions. Iran denied negotiating with the US, saying they are only exchanging messages. Iran has blockaded the strait since a US-Israel attack in late February and wants to charge tolls. Attacks led to the collapse of an April ceasefire. Security chief Zolghadr demanded an end to war and aggression against Iran and its allies, lifting of a US counterblockade, end of sanctions, release of frozen assets, and compensation. The UAE condemned a missile attack on an ADNOC tanker. UKMTO reported a ship hit by a projectile off Oman. Oman condemned repeated attacks. Houthis struck a Saudi Aramco refinery in Jazan, causing a fire. Saudi Arabia signed a defense pact with Pakistan and Turkey.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said on Sunday it would not reopen the Strait of Hormuz until the United States meets Tehran's conditions, including compensation for war damages. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said discussions with Oman over transit and management of the strait were 'approaching the final stages,' but added that reopening 'is subject to other conditions and compensation for the violation' of the June agreement. He denied that Iran was negotiating with the US, saying the sides were merely 'exchanging messages' via intermediaries. Iran has imposed an effective blockade of the strait since the US and Israel attacked in late February, and wants to charge tolls for passage. It has struck ships it accuses of attempting to circumvent its preferred route. Continued attacks led to the collapse of an April ceasefire. Mediators have urged both sides to return to the terms of a subsequent June memorandum. Security chief Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr laid out demands including an end to 'war and aggression against Iran and its allies in Lebanon, Palestine, Yemen and Iraq,' lifting of a US counterblockade, end of sanctions, release of frozen assets, and compensation. The UAE condemned a 'hostile Iranian attack' on an ADNOC tanker. UKMTO reported a ship hit by a projectile off Oman. Oman condemned repeated attacks. Meanwhile, Houthis struck a Saudi Aramco refinery in Jazan, causing a fire. Saudi Arabia signed a defense pact with Pakistan and Turkey.