Date: October 4, 2026
Reporter: Emilly Jordan
DUBAI — Iran has said the Strait of Hormuz will not reopen until seven conditions agreed upon in an interim understanding with the United States are met, signaling that the strategically important waterway will remain closed while indirect negotiations between Tehran and Washington continue.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, who is also the country’s top negotiator, made the statement on Sunday, according to Iranian state media outlet Nournews. His comments came days after Tehran received Washington’s response to an Iranian diplomatic proposal aimed at resolving the dispute and restoring maritime traffic through the strait.
“The position of the Islamic Republic of Iran is completely clear and firm, and the Strait of Hormuz will not be opened until our seven conditions, based on the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, are met,” Qalibaf was quoted as saying.
He accused Washington of prolonging the diplomatic process and attempting to impose one-sided demands, saying Iran would not accept such an approach.
Iran had presented a proposal during the United Nations General Assembly under which the Strait of Hormuz could be reopened and normal maritime passage restored within seven days if its conditions were fulfilled. The United States subsequently responded through Qatari intermediaries, although the details of Washington’s response have not been publicly disclosed.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi separately said on Sunday that Tehran’s proposal could allow the waterway to reopen within seven days if Washington accepts Iran’s terms.
Speaking to foreign ambassadors and diplomats in Tehran, Araghchi said Iran had clearly communicated its conditions for reopening the strait and that those conditions were tied to commitments that the United States would have to make.
He said Tehran continued to prefer a diplomatic solution but warned that Iran was prepared to respond if Washington chose military action again.
“If they again move toward military solutions, we are more prepared than before and will take whatever action is necessary to defend ourselves,” Araghchi said, according to Reuters.
The dispute over the Strait of Hormuz has major international implications because the waterway is one of the world's most important energy routes. Its closure has disrupted maritime trade and placed additional pressure on global oil supplies.
The latest diplomatic efforts have involved intermediaries, including Qatar, as Tehran and Washington attempt to bridge differences over the conditions required to end the confrontation and restore shipping through the strait.
The seven conditions referenced by Qalibaf are based on the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, an interim framework reached earlier in the year. Iranian officials have previously linked reopening the waterway to measures including the lifting of the U.S. maritime blockade, the release of frozen Iranian funds, exemptions allowing Iranian oil exports and an end to military operations, although Tehran has not publicly detailed all seven conditions in the latest statement.
The central disagreement appears to involve the sequence in which the two sides would implement their respective commitments. Iran has maintained that sanctions and the blockade should be eased before it fully restores maritime access, while the United States has sought assurances and concessions from Tehran as part of any broader agreement.
Despite the public differences, the continued exchange of proposals through mediators indicates that diplomatic channels remain open. Iran has said it is prepared to negotiate while also warning that it could respond militarily if the United States resumes attacks.
The situation around the Strait of Hormuz remains closely watched by governments, shipping companies and energy markets because any prolonged disruption could have wider consequences for international trade and fuel supplies.
For now, however, Tehran has made clear that reopening the waterway remains conditional. Qalibaf's statement indicates that Iran intends to maintain its position until the seven conditions outlined in the interim agreement are fulfilled, leaving the timing of a full reopening dependent on the outcome of the ongoing diplomatic negotiations.