West Asia war LIVE: Iran ties Strait of Hormuz reopening to U.S. concessions on several demands

Home News World Iran and the U.S. are not engaged in direct talks, and Tehran will not start them ⁠as long as Washington breaches an interim deal signed in June, Mr. Aragchi said, adding that messages were being exchanged through intermediaries. Updated - August 10, 2026 06:55 am IST Strait of Hormuz. File | Photo Credit: AP Iran said it was nearing a final pact with Oman to define new shipping lanes between them through the Strait of Hormuz, but reiterated that the U.S. must meet other conditions, including compensation and an end to sanctions and military threats, before the strategic waterway is reopened. Also read | Mecca Agreement | A new triple alliance in West AsiaA U.S. official told Reuters on August 7, 2026, that Iran and Oman were close to a deal that ⁠could pave the way for restoring safe passage through the strait, a major conduit for oil and gas shipping before Iran blocked Hormuz in response to U.S. and Israeli attacks on Tehran that began in late February. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi said on August 9, 2026, that an agreement with Oman on the strait was in its “final stages,” but reiterated comments made on August 8 that Tehran would not reopen the channel unless the U.S. met certain demands.Also read | A new security triangle emerges with the Makkah PactIran and the U.S. are not engaged in direct talks, and Tehran will not start them ⁠as long as Washington breaches an interim deal signed in June, Mr. Aragchi said, adding that messages were being exchanged through intermediaries.Follow here for LIVE updates:August 10, 2026 06:55 Details emerge about potential Iran-Oman dealIran and Oman, located on the other side of the Strait of Hormuz, are working to finalize a temporary deal that would reopen it, with ships entering near Iran and exiting near Oman, according to two people familiar with the talks who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. Ships would transit without paying fees or tolls during the interim period.The agreement is designed to restore the separate interim deal between the U.S. and Iran. The two people said the agreement is endorsed by Gulf Cooperation Council members and is expected to be jointly announced by Iran, Oman, the U.S. and the UN’s International Maritime Organization. But they stressed the terms still could change.The Iranian parliament’s National Security Committee approved “general outlines” of a plan to manage the strait, the state broadcaster reported, but a lawmaker said transits by vessels belonging to “hostile countries” would be prohibited. The member of parliament’s presiding board said countries that have “caused damage” to Iran cannot transit until they compensate for it. There were no further details.- APAugust 10, 2026 06:54 Iran says negotiations cannot resume' until conditions metIran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told reporters that negotiations with Oman about “new maritime routes” on the Strait of Hormuz were in the final stages but “this, however, does not mean that the Strait of Hormuz will reopen.” That step requires conditions that “have been conveyed through intermediaries.” The Supreme National Security Council on Saturday said the strait will not reopen until the U.S. “corrects its behavior.” It demanded that the U.S. never threaten Iran again, a permanent end to the war with Iran and its armed allies, a lifting of the naval blockade of Iranian ports and a withdrawal of the US military from the area. The U.S. also must “completely compensate” Iran for war damage, lift sanctions and “unconditionally” release frozen assets.The United States did not comment on the demands. Mr. Trump yesterday asserted to Axios that “we are only semi-negotiating” with Iran and letting economic pressures take their toll.Mr. Araghchi said an “exchange of messages through intermediaries” continues with the U.S., but that doesn’t constitute negotiations, which he said can’t resume until violations of the interim deal end and the U.S. “has remedied” provisions it violated.- APAugust 10, 2026 06:51 Iran's top security post changes again Iran named a new head of its powerful Supreme National Security Council, state media reported. Mohsen Rezaei had been a military adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei and a former Revolutionary Guard commander.It was the latest shuffle at the top for the politburo-like body, which has a range of political opinions and rivalries and is adapting to the loss of several senior officials in the war.Mr. Rezaei replaces Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, who took up the role after Ali Larijani was killed by an Israeli strike in March. Mr. Zolghadr will become a political adviser to Khamenei.Mr. Rezaei earlier this month said Iran will never allow an unauthorized route through the Strait of Hormuz, which was considered an international waterway before the war and Tehran’s assertion of control.- AP Published - August 10, 2026 06:49 am IST