What happened
Iran is reviewing a US response to its proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, with Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei stating that security will not return to the waterway while the US maintains its blockade and economic pressure.
The US and Iran have been exchanging messages through intermediaries, including Qatar and Pakistan, in an effort to end the war that began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran in February.
Despite a ceasefire, the US has reinstated its naval blockade of Iranian ports and increased economic pressure on Iran through sanctions. Iranian officials have rejected the US position, with Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei stating that the Strait of Hormuz is not open and that traffic remains far below pre-war levels.
The US claims to control the Strait of Hormuz, with US Central Command stating that it has supported the shipment of over 1.25 billion barrels of crude oil from Gulf partners through the strait in recent months. Iran, on the other hand, has not shipped any oil due to the US blockade.
Iran has presented the US with seven conditions for reopening the strait, with the US responding by accepting some and leaving others unclear. Iranian officials consider the US response to be inadequate and have warned that if the US launches another attack, American assets could be targeted.
