Iran Sets Tough Terms to Reopen Strait of Hormuz as UAE Ship Hit by Missile

Tehran has issued strict new conditions for reopening the strategic Strait of Hormuz, demanding that the United States first “correct its behaviour.” The statement came as the United Arab Emirates reported that one of its ships was struck by an Iranian missile, with no deal yet reached to restore access to the vital waterway. Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, a powerful state body, said the strait will remain closed until Washington changes its approach. The council’s secretary, Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, who also serves as a commander in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), made the remarks in a statement published by Iranian state media on Saturday. The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow passage between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. About one-fifth of the world’s oil passes through it, making it a key route for global energy supplies. The UAE’s report of a missile strike on one of its ships adds to rising tensions in the region. No immediate details were given about the vessel or any casualties. Diplomatic efforts to reopen the strait have so far failed. Iran’s latest demands signal that a resolution is not near, as both sides remain locked in a standoff.