Archive · 28 Aug 2026
Iran Sets Conditions for Reopening Strait of Hormuz
Iran controls part of the Strait of Hormuz and is deciding what it wants before allowing shipping to fully resume.
Iran’s security chief said ending the regional war would be one condition.
Iran says ships could use a special central route through Iranian and Omani waters.
This route would be used if the United States accepts Iran’s conditions.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards listed more demands, including lifting what Iran calls a blockade of its ports.
They also want compensation and the removal of sanctions.
The waterway is important because it carried about one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments before the war.
Earlier ceasefires were supposed to help restore shipping, but they did not last.
Iran is preparing conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz after mediators requested them.
Mohsen Rezaei said ending the regional war would be among Iran’s conditions.
Iran and Oman have agreed on a proposed shipping corridor through their respective waters, according to Rezaei.
The Iranian Revolutionary Guards said reopening also requires lifting what Tehran calls a blockade, compensation, and sanctions removal.
The strait previously carried roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, but traffic has largely stopped since the war began.
- Who
- Iran, represented by Supreme National Security Council secretary Mohsen Rezaei and the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, with Oman involved in the proposed corridor.
- What
- Iran is preparing conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz and says a designated shipping route could be used if those conditions are met.
- When
- The conditions were reported on Aug. 27; shipping has largely stopped since the war began in February.
- Where
- The Strait of Hormuz, including waters controlled by Iran and Oman.
- Why
- Iran says reopening depends on ending the regional war and, according to the Revolutionary Guards, lifting what Tehran calls a blockade, paying compensation, and removing sanctions.
- Main Iranian condition
- Ending the regional war is among the conditions cited by Mohsen Rezaei.
- Proposed corridor
- A shipping corridor would pass through both Omani and Iranian waters.
- Planned route
- Ships would use a designated central channel if the United States met Iran’s conditions.
- Additional demands
- The Iranian Revolutionary Guards cited lifting a claimed blockade, compensation, and sanctions removal.
- Global importance
- Before the war, the strait carried roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.
- Current traffic
- Shipping through the waterway has largely stopped since the war began.
- Ceasefires
- Ceasefire agreements announced in April and June were intended to restore maritime traffic but did not hold.
