Kathmandu. Mohammad Bager Zolghader, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, has said that the Strait of Hormuz will not be opened until the US meets its 6 demands.
The demands include the easing of sanctions against Iran, reparations for war damages, the immediate lifting of the naval blockade on Iranian ports, an end to threats against Iran and the release of seized assets, BBC Persian reported.
According to analysts, Jolghadar has largely repeated Iran’s previous demands. But it does point to Iran’s tough stance on Hormuz in the talks.
The statements came as Iran and Oman described recent talks on new arrangements for shipping from Hormuz as “positive and constructive”.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said that talks with Oman are in the final stages. But he said reaching an agreement meant that the reopening of waterways was “subject to other conditions” and not the immediate reopening of Strait.
Earlier, Reuters news agency quoted a US official as saying that Iran and Oman had made progress in the Hormugabari talks and that the US hoped to reach an agreement soon. According to the official, the US will lift the blockade of Iranian ports after the agreement is announced to guarantee the free movement of commercial ships through Hormuz. –Agency
