Iran sets conditions for reopening Strait of Hormuz

IRAN has set several conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, including compensation for war damages, an end to sanctions and the release of frozen Iranian assets, further complicating efforts to restore traffic through the strategic waterway.

According to AFP, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said discussions with Oman on the transit and management of the Strait were approaching their final stages, but warned that reopening the waterway would depend on additional conditions and compensation for alleged violations of a June agreement.

Iran’s security chief, Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, said the conditions also included an end to what Tehran described as the war and aggression against Iran and its allies in Lebanon, Palestine, Yemen and Iraq, as well as the lifting of a US naval blockade.

He also demanded the lifting of a parallel US naval blockade of Iran, the end of sanctions, the release of frozen assets and compensation for wartime damage, according to remarks reported by Tasnim news agency.

Iran has effectively restricted passage through the Strait of Hormuz since the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran in late February. Tehran has also demanded tolls for vessels using the waterway and attacked ships it accused of attempting to bypass its preferred route.

The restrictions have significantly reduced maritime traffic through the strait, a crucial route for global energy supplies.

The latest developments came after further attacks on vessels in the waterway. The United Arab Emirates condemned what it described as an Iranian missile attack on an ADNOC tanker transiting the Strait, while the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations later reported that a vessel was struck by a projectile off Oman, causing a fire. No casualties were reported.

ADNOC said on Friday that 15 of its vessels had been attacked in the Strait of Hormuz since the start of the war, including three during the week.

Oman also condemned repeated attacks on vessels using the waterway but said negotiations on navigation arrangements continued in a positive and constructive atmosphere.

The previous Iran-US agreement provided for Iran and Oman to negotiate future arrangements for the Strait with other Gulf countries in accordance with applicable international law. AFP noted that international law generally prohibits the imposition of tolls on such waterways.

Nurudeen Akewushola is an investigative reporter and fact-checker with The ICIR. He believes courageous in-depth investigative reporting is the key to social justice, accountability and good governance in society. You can reach him via nyahaya@icirnigeria.org and @NurudeenAkewus1 on Twitter.