Iran Halts Further US Exchanges as Dispute over Hormuz Reopening Deepens

Iran has stopped responding to the United States over a proposal to reopen the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, after describing Washington’s reply to its conditions as insufficient, according to Iranian state media. The development adds to uncertainty surrounding diplomatic efforts to end the conflict and restore normal shipping through the waterway.

Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said Tehran had presented seven conditions for reopening the strait and had made clear that negotiations would not proceed until its demands were met. He added that Washington had accepted some conditions but left others unresolved.

Iran submitted its proposal during the United Nations General Assembly, offering to restore normal maritime passage within seven days if its conditions were fulfilled. The United States subsequently communicated its response through Qatari intermediaries, who have been helping facilitate indirect contacts between the two countries.

Tehran Seeks Clarification on US Response

Rezaei said Washington needed to clarify the outstanding issues before diplomatic engagement could move forward. Iranian officials have not publicly disclosed the full details of all seven conditions or specified which demands the United States had accepted.

The latest impasse follows an earlier setback in September, when US President Donald Trump rejected an Iranian proposal intended to revive ceasefire efforts and reopen the waterway. Qatar and other regional mediators have continued transmitting messages between Washington and Tehran in an attempt to bridge their differences.

The White House had not immediately responded to a Reuters request for comment on Iran’s latest statement.

Strait of Hormuz Remains Central to Negotiations

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical shipping route connecting the Persian Gulf with international markets. Before the conflict began in late February with US and Israeli attacks on Iran, approximately one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas supplies passed through the waterway. Disruptions have raised concerns over energy supplies and international shipping.

The dispute over reopening the strait has become a key obstacle in efforts to secure a broader agreement. Iran has linked the restoration of maritime passage to the fulfilment of its conditions, while Washington and Tehran remain divided over the terms of a possible settlement.

With Iran now saying it will no longer respond to the United States until outstanding issues are clarified, the immediate prospects for renewed negotiations remain uncertain.