Iran says Strait of Hormuz will stay closed until US meets conditions

Iran's parliament speaker has said the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the United States accepts Tehran's conditions, sharpening an already tense dispute over one of the world's most important energy routes. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the waterway would not reopen until Iran's seven conditions, which he linked to the Islamabad memorandum, are met. He also said Washington had sent proposals through a mediator after responding to Iran's diplomatic offer.

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Ghalibaf said the era of "wasting time and dictating unilateral demands" was over, and insisted Iran's position was "clear and definite". He added that Iran was "present on the military battlefield" and would confront its opponents with "new surprises", while also saying the country was neither "excited" nor "intimidated" by the latest US proposals. Separately, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran was serious about diplomacy but equally serious about defending itself, and warned that any renewed US military action would be met with a stronger response.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical maritime chokepoint through which about one-fifth of global oil and natural gas is shipped in peacetime. Any prolonged disruption or threat to traffic there can quickly affect shipping confidence, energy prices and regional trade. The latest comments therefore carry significance well beyond the bilateral dispute between Tehran and Washington.

The remarks also come against the backdrop of continuing US-Iran tensions and stalled nuclear-related diplomacy. Iranian officials have framed reopening the strait as part of a wider political and security bargain, while the US has focused on nuclear talks and rejected an Iranian proposal to reopen the route last week. Last month, US President Donald Trump threatened to "annihilate" Iran in remarks at the United Nations General Assembly, adding to the pressure surrounding the talks.

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Iran's foreign ministry has said reopening the strait remains its main goal, while spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran used the UN General Assembly platform to set out its position on ending the US-Israel war on Iran. He said the US has continued to focus on nuclear negotiations, while Iran's principal concern is the strait. The exchange suggests both sides are still using public statements and mediated messages rather than moving toward a direct settlement.

What remains unclear is whether the mediator-backed proposals mentioned by Iranian officials contain any basis for compromise, and which of Tehran's seven conditions are still unresolved. It is also not clear how long the closure threat can be sustained without wider economic consequences. For now, the key issue is whether the dispute moves toward a negotiated reopening or further escalation in rhetoric and pressure.

Iran's foreign minister has said there is no military solution to the country's conflict with the United States, as talks on ending the war appear to have stalled. Abbas Araghchi made the remarks at a gathering of foreign ambassadors, warning that any renewed military confrontation would be met with a stronger response. He also said there was no solution based on new sanctions.

At the same time, parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said the Strait of Hormuz would not reopen until seven Iranian conditions are met. He said the conditions were set out in a June interim agreement with the United States and linked them to the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding. Qalibaf also said proposals had recently been put forward through a mediator, but that the period of delay and one-sided demands was over.

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Araghchi separately said a plan put forward by Tehran to resolve the dispute with Washington could lead to the strait reopening within seven days if accepted. He said Iran had clearly explained its conditions for reopening the waterway and that they were tied to commitments the United States would have to accept. The comments underline that the dispute remains unresolved and that both sides are still trading demands rather than moving toward a settlement.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most sensitive energy chokepoints, and any restriction on traffic there can quickly affect shipping and market confidence. That makes the standoff significant well beyond the immediate dispute between Tehran and Washington. Even without a formal closure, uncertainty over access to the strait can raise concerns for regional trade and global energy supplies.

The latest remarks also point to a broader pattern of pressure and counter-pressure in the relationship between Iran and the United States. Tehran is presenting the reopening of the strait as conditional on political and security commitments, while also warning that military action would bring a stronger response. The use of intermediaries suggests that direct talks remain limited, even as both sides continue to signal that proposals are still being exchanged.

What remains unclear is whether the mediator-backed proposals mentioned by Iranian officials have any realistic chance of bridging the gap. It is also not clear which of the seven conditions Tehran says must be met are still unresolved. For now, the key issue to watch is whether the dispute moves toward a negotiated reopening of the strait or further escalation in rhetoric and pressure.

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