Iran: Strait of Hormuz Will Stay Closed Unless US Meets Demands

Iran says a final agreement with Oman on safe shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz is close. But the strait will not reopen unless the United States accepts Tehran’s conditions, a spokesman for Iran’s foreign ministry said. The statement raises the stakes in a waterway that carries about one-fifth of the world’s oil supply. Iran has previously threatened to disrupt traffic there in response to US sanctions and military pressure. The spokesman did not specify what demands Iran is making. He only said that a deal with Oman, which has long acted as a mediator between Tehran and Washington, is “near.” No timeline was given for when the strait might fully reopen. The warning comes as global markets watch for any disruption to tanker routes.