Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, recently announced a list of requirements that the United States must fulfill before Iran will consider reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The statement, which was broadcast via Iran’s state-run IRIB network, frames the reopening as a response to a change in American policy.

According to Zolghadr, the U.S. must take four specific actions to satisfy Tehran’s demands. First, the U.S. is required to cease all threats against Iran and its “sacred values.” Second, Washington must permanently halt any military operations directed at Iran or its regional allies. Third, the U.S. must withdraw its naval and air forces currently involved in what Iran describes as a blockade. Finally, the statement includes a demand for financial compensation for damages incurred by Iran.

This announcement serves as a formal articulation of Iran’s stance regarding the strategic waterway, which is a critical transit point for global oil shipments. By linking the status of the Strait to these geopolitical demands, Iranian leadership is effectively using the waterway as leverage in its ongoing tensions with the United States. While the report outlines the conditions set by the Iranian government, it does not include a response from the U.S. State Department or the Pentagon, nor does it provide context regarding the current status of the blockade or the specific damages for which Iran is seeking compensation.