The United States is demanding that Iran publicly assure the Strait of Hormuz is open and that ships will not be attacked, as internal power struggles in Tehran threaten a fragile ceasefire and complicate nuclear negotiations.
The United States is pressing Iran to issue a clear public declaration that the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy chokepoint, remains open for commercial navigation and that vessels traversing the corridor will not face attacks.
This demand is at the forefront of ongoing, tense negotiations between the two nations, according to senior U.S. officials who spoke on condition of anonymity. The request comes amid deep internal divisions within Iran's leadership, which U.S. officials attribute to a rogue faction of hardliners allegedly attempting to sabotage a fragile ceasefire agreement. These internal struggles have complicated the diplomatic landscape, making it difficult to both reach a sustainable deal and ensure its enforcement.
The situation remains volatile, with the U.S. reserving the right to respond forcefully to any further incidents, a stance that President Donald Trump has reinforced publicly. The demand for a public statement from Tehran is not merely symbolic; it is intended to restore a basic level of confidence and security in the world's most important oil transit route.
Approximately one-fifth of the global supply of traded oil and liquefied natural gas passes through the narrow strait, and its closure or frequent harassment has already triggered a significant global energy crisis. While oil prices have receded from their wartime peak of $120 per barrel, the continued threat to shipping keeps markets jittery and disrupts global supply chains.
The U.S. officials indicated that the recent resumption of attacks on merchant ships was a deliberate provocation by elements within Iran seeking to derail the peace process. In response, the Trump administration authorized powerful counterstrikes, sending a clear message that any aggression, regardless of its origin within the Iranian system, will be met with decisive retaliation. Complicating matters further is Iran's assertion of total sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran's Ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, stated that all activities in the waterway, including any operations to clear mines or reopen it, are exclusively under Iranian authority. He warned that any external interference would violate the interim ceasefire deal, delay the return of normal commercial navigation, and increase regional tensions.
Tehran has also floated the idea of imposing transit fees on vessels using the strait, a move that would fundamentally challenge the long-standing international convention that it is a vital international waterway. This posturing creates a major point of contention with the U.S. and its allies, who are seeking assurances of free passage. The nuclear file remains deeply intertwined with these maritime and security issues.
U.S. officials made it clear that any comprehensive agreement on Iran's nuclear programme must include the complete turnover of its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, material that could potentially be used to construct a nuclear weapon. The officials noted that this material is believed to be buried underground following U.S. military strikes last summer aimed at destroying key nuclear facilities. They emphasized that securing this fissile material is a non-negotiable prerequisite for any deal.
Furthermore, they explicitly linked progress on the nuclear track to Iran's compliance with the ceasefire terms, stating that a permanent resolution on the nuclear issue cannot be achieved if attacks on shipping in the Gulf continue. President Trump has set a limited timeframe for his negotiators to secure an agreement with Iran. He has expressed frustration with the pace of talks and the continuing provocations, taking to social media to declare the interim ceasefire "over!
" Yet he simultaneously indicated a desire to continue negotiations for a permanent end to hostilities. The administration maintains that a range of military options remains on the table should diplomacy fail, though specifics were not detailed. The broader strategic challenge for the Trump administration is to extricate the United States from a conflict it initiated earlier this year, originally justified by concerns over Iran's nuclear advancements and ballistic missile programme.
With domestic political pressure mounting to conclude the war and mitigate its economic fallout, the path to a durable settlement appears fraught with obstacles, including the unresolved power struggle in Tehran following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in U.S. and Israeli strikes at the war's outset. The diplomatic atmosphere remains tense, with uncertainty also surrounding recent airstrikes on Iranian territory after the U.S. declared its own campaign finished, and with warnings from Iranian hardliners about consequences for allies like the United Arab Emirates
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