Iran’s Supreme National Security Council announced that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the United States “corrects its behaviour”, introducing a series of strict preconditions that threaten to disrupt ongoing navigation talks.

In a statement issued via state media by council secretary and Revolutionary Guard commander Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, Tehran demanded that Washington never threaten Iran again, permanently conclude hostilities with Iran and its regional allies, lift port blockades and withdraw military forces from the zone. In addition, the statement insisted the US “completely compensate” for war damages, drop all sanctions and release frozen assets “unconditionally”.

Meanwhile, tensions spiked at sea as Emirati authorities reported that a vessel operated by Abu Dhabi's state-owned ADNOC energy company was struck by an Iranian missile while navigating the strait. Although ADNOC confirmed zero casualties from the early Saturday assault, the firm noted that over a dozen of its ships have faced missile and drone assaults since the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran began in February, resulting in one crew fatality and 20 injuries.

On diplomatic fronts, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that discussions with Oman over a separate navigation agreement—focused on “specifically the determination of a transit route”—were nearing a breakthrough, though full reopening depends on broader conditions. Oman described ongoing dialogues as taking place “in a positive and constructive atmosphere”.

Further compounding regional volatility, Yemen’s military launched offensives against Iranian-backed Houthi positions across multiple front lines to retaliate against recent insurgent strikes, risking a collapse of the 2022 truce. Concurrently in Turkey, a parliamentary committee advanced a key peace bill aimed at overseeing the disarmament and reintegration of Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) fighters, paving the way for a full general assembly vote following the group’s historical decision to disband.

AP