Iran's Supreme National Security Council declared the Strait of Hormuz won't reopen until the United States "corrects its behavior," according to a statement from council secretary Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr. The Revolutionary Guard commander's remarks, published by Iran’s state broadcaster, laid out a series of conditions for de-escalation in the vital waterway. These demands follow an attack on an Emirati vessel in the Strait, which Abu Dhabi’s state-owned ADNOC oil and gas company attributed to an Iranian missile.
The council's statement insisted the U.S. must never threaten Iran again. It also called for a permanent end to the war with Iran and its armed allies across the region. Furthermore, Iran demanded the lifting of the naval blockade on its ports and the withdrawal of U.S. military forces from the area. The statement also sought complete compensation for war damage, the lifting of all sanctions, and the unconditional release of frozen Iranian assets.
There was no immediate comment from the United States on these new demands. The U.S. has previously stated its preference for an acceptable deal on the strait before considering an end to the blockade. An interim deal, signed in June this year, outlined a schedule for ending sanctions and a plan for compensation as part of a final agreement, with negotiations also addressing frozen assets. The 60-day period for these final deal negotiations is set to conclude in just over a week, though extensions remain possible.
US-Israeli War on Iran
The ADNOC vessel attack occurred early Saturday while transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Emirati authorities confirmed Iran fired the missile as part of ongoing attacks on commercial shipping. ADNOC reported no casualties from this latest incident. However, the company stated that over a dozen of its vessels have been targeted by missiles and drones since the United States and Israel launched the war on Iran in February this year. These previous attacks have resulted in one crew member killed and 20 others wounded.
Iran had indicated it was nearing a separate agreement with Oman to manage the strait. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated earlier Saturday that they were close to a deal on navigation, specifically regarding the determination of a transit route. He added that the waterway's reopening depended on other conditions. Oman, acting as a mediator, confirmed ongoing discussions in a "positive and constructive atmosphere" and condemned attacks on ships in the strait. The Strait of Hormuz, crucial for global oil and natural gas supplies, was considered an international waterway before the war began.
Separately, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Center reported a vessel east of Khasab, Oman, was struck by a projectile. This incident caused a fire that was subsequently extinguished, leaving the vessel and crew safe. It remains unclear if this was the same incident involving the ADNOC vessel.
Yemen's Renewed Conflict
In Yemen, the country’s military launched attacks against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. These actions were described as a response to recent Houthi strikes in central and eastern Yemen. Col. Majed al-Nazili, spokesperson for Yemen’s military, confirmed the attacks targeted rebel "sites and capabilities" across multiple front lines, without providing further details. This escalation between the Houthis and Yemen’s internationally recognized government, backed by a Saudi-supported coalition, threatens to reignite Yemen’s civil war. A truce had been in place for four years, since 2022.
Kurdish Peace Initiative
Meanwhile, in Turkey, a draft law aimed at advancing a peace effort with the country’s Kurdish insurgents successfully passed its initial parliamentary hurdle. A committee approved the measure on Saturday, and it is expected to receive general assembly approval next week. The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) declared its decision to disarm and disband one year ago, as part of this peace initiative designed to end the decades-long conflict with the Turkish state. The proposed legislation outlines procedures for the group’s disarmament and the rehabilitation of some PKK members. These measures would become effective once Turkey’s National Security Council confirms the group has disbanded and surrendered all weapons. The conflict has claimed tens of thousands of lives since it began in the 1980s. Turkey and its Western allies continue to consider the PKK a terrorist organization.