Tehran: Iran has said the United States has accepted some of its seven conditions for reopening the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, but described Washington's response as inadequate, leaving efforts to resolve the diplomatic standoff uncertain.

Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said in a post on X on Monday that Tehran would not return to the previous status quo, signalling that its demands remain central to any potential agreement.

The remarks come amid ongoing efforts to end the conflict and restore shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global energy supplies.

What are Iran's seven conditions?

Iran has made the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the resumption of negotiations conditional on the United States addressing seven demands.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said earlier this month that the waterway would remain closed to the US until Washington met the conditions, which Iranian officials have linked to a memorandum of understanding agreed upon in June.

Tehran has indicated that its demands include an end to the US naval blockade and the lifting of restrictions on Iranian oil sales. The conditions are also part of broader efforts to establish a framework for ending the conflict and addressing security concerns.

Iran has conveyed its demands through Qatari intermediaries, who have been facilitating communication between Tehran and Washington.

However, Rezaei's latest remarks suggest that the US response has not sufficiently addressed all of Iran's concerns. While Washington has reportedly accepted some conditions, Tehran says other aspects remain unresolved or require clarification.
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Strait of Hormuz remains a major flashpoint

The dispute over the waterway has emerged as one of the most consequential issues in the conflict.

The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and is a crucial passage for international oil and liquefied natural gas shipments. Before the conflict began in late February, around a fifth of global oil and LNG supplies passed through the strait.

Any prolonged disruption to shipping through the narrow waterway risks affecting energy markets, trade and the movement of goods worldwide.

Iran's insistence on linking access to the strait with its demands has increased pressure on Washington to find a diplomatic solution. The two sides have continued communicating through intermediaries, but disagreements over the terms and implementation of a potential agreement remain obstacles.

An official briefed on the discussions told Reuters last week that the principal disagreement concerned the sequence in which proposed measures would be implemented, rather than the measures themselves.

Tehran rules out immediate nuclear negotiations

Iran has also pushed back against suggestions that it is prepared to negotiate its nuclear programme as part of the current diplomatic effort.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Washington's proposals largely reflected its earlier positions, particularly regarding the nuclear issue. He maintained that Tehran's immediate priority was the Strait of Hormuz and restoring security in the area.

Baghaei also denied reports that Iran had offered to permit inspections by the United Nations' nuclear watchdog in exchange for sanctions relief. He said Tehran had not entered negotiations with Washington on its nuclear programme.

The issue remains a longstanding source of tension between the two countries, with the US seeking restrictions on Iran's nuclear activities and Tehran resisting demands it considers unacceptable.
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Trump says war could end 'really quick'

US President Donald Trump has maintained that the conflict could be brought to an end quickly, while warning that Iran might intensify its actions ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.

Speaking at a political event in Tennessee on Saturday, Trump suggested that Tehran might take additional action before the vote in the hope of damaging his political standing.

“They'll probably do a little bit extra before the election, thinking it's going to hurt us,” Trump said. “But we could end it really quick.”

He also claimed that Washington had exercised restraint despite the degradation of Iran's naval forces, adding, “They don't know how nice I've been to them.”

Trump has previously said the US would not attack Iran before the midterm elections, citing what he described as productive discussions between the two countries. However, he has also maintained that the US blockade would remain in place despite the diplomatic engagement.

Iran warns it is prepared for renewed conflict

Despite the continuing diplomatic contacts, Iranian officials have warned that Tehran remains prepared for further military confrontation if negotiations fail.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Sunday that Iran hoped Washington would choose diplomacy but would defend itself if the US returned to military action.

“If they again move towards military solutions, we are more prepared than before and will take whatever action is necessary to defend ourselves,” Araghchi said while addressing foreign ambassadors and diplomats in Tehran.

Iranian military spokesperson Mohammad Akraminia has also indicated that the country intends to increase the range of its missiles.

Meanwhile, the conflict's regional implications continue to grow. Trump said on October 10 that Washington was considering joining Saudi Arabia's strikes against Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi movement following attacks on Saudi airports.

The latest exchange over the Strait of Hormuz therefore leaves the prospects for a broader settlement uncertain, with both sides continuing to issue warnings even as diplomatic channels remain open.