The crisis around the Strait of Hormuz has deepened after Iran said the strategic waterway would remain blocked until the United States changes what Tehran described as its hostile conduct, adding new demands that could complicate efforts to restore maritime traffic.
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, through its secretary, Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, said Washington must end military action against Iran and refrain from future threats before the waterway can be reopened.
The demands reportedly include the withdrawal of US forces from the Persian Gulf, an end to military operations against Tehran and its regional allies, the removal of economic sanctions and compensation for damages linked to the conflict.
Iran has also demanded the release of frozen state assets and an end to what it described as the US naval blockade of Iranian ports.
The White House has yet to issue a formal response to the latest demands. US diplomats have maintained that arrangements governing transit through the strategic waterway must be agreed before restrictions on maritime movement are lifted.
Negotiators are also working to resolve outstanding issues surrounding sanctions, compensation and frozen Iranian assets, with the deadline for a final agreement approaching.
At the same time, Iran says it is close to reaching a separate understanding with neighbouring Oman on managing navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said negotiations with Oman were nearing agreement on maritime navigation, particularly the determination of a transit route. He cautioned, however, that reopening the chokepoint fully would depend on wider conditions.
Alleged UAE Ship Attack Raises Tensions
The crisis intensified after an oil and gas tanker linked to Abu Dhabi’s state-backed energy company ADNOC was reportedly targeted while transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
The United Arab Emirates Foreign Ministry accused Iran of firing the missile, describing the incident as part of a wider campaign against commercial shipping.
ADNOC said its crew escaped without casualties in the latest incident, but disclosed that more than a dozen of its vessels had been attacked by missiles and drones since the conflict began.
The company said the wider attacks had resulted in one crew member being killed and 20 others injured.
ADNOC did not disclose the precise location of the latest incident or provide detailed information about damage to the vessel.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) also reported that a vessel east of Khasab, Oman, had been struck by an airborne projectile. The attack reportedly triggered a fire on board, which the crew managed to extinguish before the vessel and its personnel were declared safe.
It remained unclear whether the UKMTO incident was the same attack reported by ADNOC.
Hormuz Crisis Adds to Regional Instability
The developments come as Iran and Oman continue discussions over a framework for managing navigation through the strategically important waterway, which had previously been regarded as an international passage.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints, making any prolonged disruption a major concern for global shipping and energy markets.
Meanwhile, renewed fighting in Yemen is adding another layer of uncertainty to the regional crisis.
The latest escalation followed military operations by the Houthis in central and eastern Yemen. Colonel Majed al-Nazili, spokesperson for Yemen’s military, said government forces had targeted Houthi positions and capabilities across several fronts.
The renewed confrontation between the Houthis and Yemen’s internationally recognised government, backed by a Saudi-supported coalition, has raised fears that the country could slide back into a broader civil war.
UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg has urged all sides to exercise restraint, warning that Yemen faces its greatest risk of renewed large-scale conflict since the UN-brokered truce of April 2022.
With the Strait of Hormuz at the centre of the crisis, alleged attacks on commercial shipping continuing and diplomatic negotiations still unresolved, the region faces mounting pressure to prevent a wider conflict that could disrupt both maritime trade and global energy supplies.
