Iran says Hormuz to remain closed until US meets conditions

What the report says

Iran said the Strait of Hormuz will stay closed until the United States accepts Tehran’s terms for reopening the waterway, according to comments attributed to parliament speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf in Iranian state-linked media. The remarks, reported by Al Jazeera on 4 October 2026, came as Washington and Tehran remained in a standoff over wider diplomatic issues, including nuclear talks and regional tensions.

Ghalibaf said the US had sent proposals through a mediator after responding to an Iranian diplomatic initiative, but insisted Iran would not reopen the strait until its conditions were met. He also said Tehran was prepared to both negotiate and confront pressure, while rejecting what he described as unilateral US demands. In separate comments, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran was serious about diplomacy but also ready to defend itself if attacked again.

Al Jazeera reported that the waterway has been largely blocked and disrupted for more than seven months after US and Israeli strikes on Iran, contributing to major shipping problems. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important energy routes, carrying a large share of global oil and gas trade in normal conditions, so any prolonged closure can affect markets and maritime security well beyond the region.