Iran reveals demands as 60-day peace talks window winds down
A vessel is seen off the coast of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates on August 3, 2026. (Photo by AFP via Getty Images)
With just over a week to go before the end of the 60-day window to finalize a ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran, leaders of the Middle Eastern nation released a new list of demands that they insist Washington must meet before the Strait of Hormuz would be opened.
Why you should care:
With its latest statement, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council could create new hurdles in reaching a final accord that would allow for traffic to resume on the vital waterway, through which much of the world’s oil and natural gas passes.
What they're saying:
The strait would not reopen until the U.S. "corrects its behavior," council Secretary Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, who is also a commander in the Revolutionary Guard Corps, wrote in the statement, which had been published by Iran’s state broadcaster.
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The statement demands the U.S. never threaten Iran, permanently end the war with its armed allies in the region, lift the naval blockade of Iranian ports, and withdraw its military assets. Also, the U.S. would need to pay for war damage suffered by Iran, lift sanctions, and "unconditionally" release frozen assets.
What's next:
The U.S. did not immediately comment on the Iranian demands. Washington has said that a deal on the strait must be reached before the blockade would be lifted. The initial ceasefire agreement that established the 60-day window established that a schedule to end sanctions and provide compensation would be included in the deal. Additionally, the status of frozen assets would be worked out during the talks.
Dig deeper:
Iran indicated that Tehran is close to reaching an arrangement to manage the strait with Oman, which sits on the other side of the passageway. Oman has not said much on the negotiations and said Saturday that discussions are continuing "in a positive and constructive atmosphere" and went on to condemn attacks on ships trying to pass through.
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Also on Saturday, the UAE accused Iran of attacking a vessel owned by Abu Dhabi’s state-owned ADNOC oil and gas company as it was going through the strait. ADNOC reported no one was injured in the assault and added that over a dozen of its ships have been attacked by missiles and drones since the war began.
The Source: Information for this article was taken from The Associated Press. This story was reported from Orlando.