Tehran/Washington: Iran has ruled out reopening the Strait of Hormuz or returning to the previous framework of negotiations with the United States until Washington meets conditions set by Tehran, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said as tensions between the two countries remain high.
Ghalibaf said Iran had communicated its demands to the United States through intermediaries and would not reconsider its position until Tehran’s conditions were addressed and what Iran describes as its rights and US commitments were recognised.
The statement places the strategic waterway at the centre of the latest diplomatic standoff, with restrictions on maritime traffic continuing to affect shipping through one of the world’s most important energy corridors.
Iran Sets Conditions for Talks and Hormuz Reopening
According to Iranian officials, Tehran has conveyed its conditions to Washington through intermediaries, including Qatar.
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei said the demands include an end to the conflict on all fronts, the release of frozen Iranian funds and an end to the US naval blockade.
Ghalibaf has separately said that Iran would not return to the earlier negotiation framework or reopen the Strait of Hormuz until its conditions are fulfilled.
The statements indicate that Tehran currently sees the status of the waterway and the broader diplomatic process as closely connected to the terms of any potential settlement.
Strait of Hormuz Remains a Major Flashpoint
The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.
It is one of the world’s most important energy shipping routes. Before the current conflict, roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows passed through the waterway.
The reduction in shipping traffic has therefore attracted significant attention from energy markets and governments around the world.
Reuters reported on September 21 that only 12 commodity vessels passed through the strait over the preceding weekend, compared with approximately 125 vessels a day before the conflict. However, oil flows have continued through vessels that are not always visible through conventional tracking systems.
US Moves to Enforce Maritime Restrictions
While Iran has ruled out reopening the waterway under the current conditions, the United States has continued efforts to enforce its naval restrictions on maritime traffic involving Iran.
US Central Command said that its forces had redirected 109 commercial vessels as of September 20 as part of efforts to enforce the blockade.
The development has increased uncertainty for shipping companies operating in and around the Gulf.
For vessels entering or leaving the region, the security environment has become increasingly complex, with operators facing potential delays, rerouting decisions and higher insurance and operational risks.
Iran Warns Against Further US Military Action
The diplomatic dispute is also unfolding alongside renewed military warnings from Tehran.
Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters has warned that any new US military action against Iran would lead to attacks on American bases and interests across the region.
Iranian authorities have also warned regional countries against supporting potential US military operations, saying countries assisting Washington could be considered participants in such action.
These statements have added another layer of uncertainty as diplomatic efforts continue through intermediaries.
US-Iran Talks Remain Uncertain
The possibility of renewed negotiations has not completely disappeared, but Iran’s latest statements indicate that Tehran is seeking changes in the conditions surrounding any return to talks.
US President Donald Trump has continued to signal that negotiations remain possible while warning Iran about the consequences of refusing to change its position. The issue could receive further attention as world leaders gather in New York for the United Nations General Assembly.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is also expected to travel through Qatar before attending the UN General Assembly in New York. Qatar has been one of the intermediaries involved in communicating between Tehran and Washington.
Qatar and Other Mediators Continue Diplomatic Efforts
The use of intermediaries reflects the lack of a direct and stable negotiating channel between Iran and the United States.
Qatar has played a role in transmitting messages between the two sides, while Iranian officials have also referred to other diplomatic contacts.
The immediate objective of these efforts is to establish conditions under which broader negotiations could resume and the conflict could move towards de-escalation.
However, the gap between Tehran’s demands and Washington’s position remains significant.
Impact on Global Oil and Shipping Markets
The uncertainty around the Strait of Hormuz is being closely monitored by energy markets.
Although visible vessel traffic has fallen sharply, oil exports from Gulf producers have continued. Reuters reported that Saudi Arabia increased crude exports through the strait in September after facing difficulties with alternative routes following attacks involving the Houthi movement.
This means the current situation has not resulted in a complete halt to global oil flows.
However, prolonged restrictions could create additional pressure on shipping costs, insurance premiums, delivery schedules and energy prices.
The longer the disruption continues, the greater the potential impact on countries that depend heavily on Gulf energy supplies.
India Also Faces Energy-Security Implications
Developments around the Strait of Hormuz are particularly important for India because the country imports a substantial share of its crude oil and relies on maritime routes through the Gulf region.
Any prolonged disruption could affect freight costs, crude procurement and delivery schedules for Indian refiners.
The impact will depend on the duration of the disruption, the volume of oil that continues to move through the waterway and the availability of alternative supply routes.
What Happens Next?
The immediate focus will be on whether diplomatic intermediaries can narrow the differences between Washington and Tehran.
Iran has made clear that it does not currently intend to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or return to the previous negotiating framework unless its stated conditions are met.
At the same time, the continued movement of some commercial vessels suggests that maritime activity has not completely stopped.
The situation therefore remains fluid, with diplomatic negotiations, naval activity and energy-market concerns developing simultaneously.
The coming days could be particularly important as the UN General Assembly brings major international leaders together in New York and diplomatic efforts surrounding the Iran-US confrontation receive renewed attention.
