Iran’s top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf says the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the United States meets conditions tied to an interim deal with Tehran, according to comments carried by Iranian state media. He reiterates that Iran links any reopening of the waterway to U.S. actions related to sanctions and assets.
Multiple outlets, including those citing Reuters reporting, say the conditions he lists include lifting a marine blockade of Iranian ports and related oil sanctions, releasing Iran’s frozen assets, and ending threats and military operations across fronts. NDTV and other reports frame the comments as further indication that shipping security and energy supplies remain at risk while the dispute persists.
While the core message is consistent across sources—that Iran is conditioning reopening on U.S. compliance—outlets differ in emphasis. The Jerusalem Post focuses on Ghalibaf’s criticism of U.S. motives, saying the U.S. agreed to an earlier “Islamabad memorandum of understanding” only “out of desperation.” Other reports primarily describe the stated preconditions without detailing the political argument.
