"US accepting Iran's conditions" key to Hormuz reopening: IRGC, rules out Oman talks link
Tehran, August 8
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has said that the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz depends on the United States accepting Iran's conditions, while stressing that the issue has no connection to the ongoing negotiations between Tehran and Muscat, according to the Iranian Fars News Agency.
IRGC spokesperson Sardar Hossein Mohebbi said that the reopening of the strategic waterway is "contingent upon the United States accepting Iran's conditions and has no connection to the Iran-Oman negotiations."
The statement comes as a US official stated on Friday (local time) that progress has been made in talks between Iran and Oman, which could lead to the reopening of the strategic Strait of Hormuz and restore oil exports disrupted by the five-month-old conflict.
Reuters, citing the US official speaking on the condition of anonymity, noted that Washington expects an agreement shortly between Iran and Oman, the two nations bordering the waterway, allowing standard commercial oil shipments to resume. Securing a deal over control of the strategic passage is considered a key stepping stone toward a broader peace agreement.
"There is progress between Oman and Iran on the strait, and we expect a deal soon. Once the deal is announced to restore commercial shipping without impediments, the United States will lift the blockade of Iranian ports," Reuters reported the official as saying.
The official emphasised that future steps would depend on Iran fulfilling its obligations, stating, "As always, US actions will continue to be performance-based and tied to Iran's implementation of its commitments."
On the other hand, US President Donald Trump on Thursday (local time) expressed confidence that the conflict involving Iran would end "pretty soon," saying that he believes the Islamic Republic "can't go much longer". He also voiced optimism over ongoing negotiations related to the Strait of Hormuz, while reaffirming the commitment to prevent Iran from posessing a nuclear weapon.
Speaking to reporters at the Oval Office, Trump expressed optimism about negotiations concerning the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most critical maritime trade routes for oil shipments.
On a possible agreement between the US and Iran, Trump said, "I don't want to say it has been... it's sort of open right now. We have a thing called the blockade headed up by the US Navy, and we control it. But they can always shoot something or drop a mine... if you have one mine sitting out there, you sort of mess things up because people don't want to take their billion-dollar boats and accidentally get hit by a mine. But I think we're doing very well. I am involved in the negotiations. I think we are doing fine... it could be soon."
— ANI
Reader Comments
The Strait of Hormuz affects all of us, especially India since we import so much oil from the Gulf. Every time there's tension there, our fuel prices go up. I hope they resolve this quickly. The whole world is watching how Trump handles this situation. 🙏
Honestly, the US says "lift the blockade" like it's doing Iran a favor, but the blockade itself was illegal under international law. You can't just blockade a country's ports and then act surprised when they refuse to cooperate. Iran has every right to set conditions. The US needs to show more respect for sovereignty instead of acting like the world's policeman all the time.
Trump saying "it could be soon" while also saying "they can always shoot something or drop a mine" sounds like someone who has no actual plan. It's just hope and bluster. Meanwhile, the global economy is suffering with every passing day. Why are these superpowers playing games with world oil supply? 😤
Oman playing the middleman is smart. They're the Switzerland of the Gulf. But let's be realistic - Iran saying "conditions" is just code for wanting sanctions relief before they do anything. The US should call their bluff and push for verifiable action first. We've seen this movie before with Iran and nuclear deals - they drag it out and never fully commit.
As an American, I'm honestly tired of our government getting into these endless Middle East standoffs. The Strait of Hormuz should have been kept out of politics. But here we are - five months and still no
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.