Iran Sets Terms for Strait of Hormuz Reopening, Demands Israeli Withdrawal

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has outlined Tehran's conditions for restoring stability and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Key demands include a comprehensive ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon, an end to what it described as the "siege of Yemen," and the release of $24 billion in frozen Iranian assets.

Brigadier General Hossein Mohebbi, an IRGC spokesperson, stated that ending the current situation requires halting threats, Israeli troop withdrawal from Lebanon, ending the Yemen blockade, releasing the frozen funds, and ceasing any interference with Iran's nuclear and missile capabilities. Mohebbi asserted that these capabilities are Iran's sovereign right and that the country is not pursuing nuclear weapons, citing religious edicts from Iranian leadership.

Mohebbi claimed Iran has achieved a significant deterrent capability, warning that any attack on two or three targets within Iran would be met with retaliation against 20 targets. He credited reliance on domestic capabilities for advancements in Iran's weapons and equipment systems.

According to Mohebbi, the ongoing conflict is inflicting strategic damage on American interests, impacting Washington's security and economic calculations. He also stated that the war has had unprecedented effects on global supply chains, affecting everything from energy and fertilizers to food and microchips.

Mohebbi highlighted the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, noting a sharp decline in oil tanker traffic from approximately 15 million barrels per day before the conflict to current levels, threatening global supply chains. He also pointed to a significant drop in U.S. strategic oil reserves and shortages in diesel, which he argued demonstrate the war's impact on the American economy.