Tehran issues drastic new demands for deal to reopen Hormuz, says US must ‘correct its behavior’

Iran's Supreme National Security Council issued new demands for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, including that the US must never threaten Iran again, end the war, lift the naval blockade, withdraw military forces, compensate for war damage, lift sanctions, and release frozen assets. The demands were issued as conditions for an accord under which Iran would merely consent to reopen the strait, not a permanent deal. US Vice President JD Vance said Iran told Washington it has no plans to impose tolls, but a parliamentary committee is reviewing a bill to introduce fees. The 60-day negotiation period ends in just over a week.

Iran's Supreme National Security Council on Saturday declared that the Strait of Hormuz will not open until the United States 'corrects its behavior,' issuing a new list of demands that could shake up talks on managing the waterway. The statement, published by Iran's state broadcaster, was attributed to the council's secretary, Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, who is also a commander in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The demands include that the US must never threaten Iran again, permanently end the war with Iran and its armed allies, lift the naval blockade of Iranian ports, withdraw its military from the area, 'completely compensate' Iran for war damage, lift sanctions, and 'unconditionally' release frozen assets. These demands reflect those Iran previously made as conditions for a permanent accord, which the US intended to also resolve the threat posed by Iran's nuclear program and its stockpile of 60%-enriched uranium. Instead, they are now conditions for an accord under which Iran would merely consent to reopen the strait. Barak Ravid, Washington correspondent of Israel's Channel 12, said 'clearly the US cannot accept' those demands and that they could push President Donald Trump back toward the military option he shelved days ago. There was no immediate US comment. The 60-day period to negotiate a final deal ends in just over a week but could be extended. Iran has said it was close to a separate deal with Oman to manage the strait. US Vice President JD Vance said Iran told Washington it has 'no plans' to impose tolls, but a parliamentary committee is reviewing a bill to introduce fees while barring US, Israeli, and other 'hostile' vessels. Vance also claimed the US has destroyed Iran's nuclear program and conventional military.