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Hormuz Attack Amid Talks
Iran targeted a vessel owned by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, even as it said talks with Oman were “approaching the final stages.”
“Iran targeted a vessel owned by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company in the Strait of Hormuz”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said talks with Oman were “approaching the final stages,” but cautioned that “this is not a sign of the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.”
The Supreme National Security Council of Iran issued a list of demands from the U.S. in order to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz, including that the U.S. must never threaten Iran again and must permanently end the war with Iran and its armed allies in the region.
Oman condemned the strike but said “the ongoing negotiations regarding arrangements related to navigation in the Strait of Hormuz are proceeding in a positive and constructive atmosphere.”
Demands and an Off-Ramp
CNN reported that the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff has privately made clear that the U.S. needs to find an off-ramp from the war with Iran because the military options on the table could backfire.
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council secretary Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr issued a list of demands, and CNN quoted his statement that “Until America corrects its behavior, the Strait of Hormuz will not be reopened.”
Reuters said Iran listed other demands including ending U.S. threats against Iran and lifting a blockade and sanctions on Iran, while the UAE said Iran had hit another ship there.
The UAE Foreign Ministry condemned what it called “the hostile Iranian attack” on an ADNOC vessel, and the Independent reported that the UAE accused Tehran of “acts of piracy.”
What Comes Next
The Reuters report said the agreement between Iran and Oman over the strait is seen as vital to a wider deal to end the war that began with U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28.
“Agreement between Iran and Oman over the strait is seen as vital to a wider deal to end the war”
Reuters also reported that U.S. officials have repeatedly insisted they would never agree to Iran controlling access to the world’s most important trade route for energy supplies, while Iran has used hostilities to justify charging a toll on oil tankers.
The Al Jazeera report said Hossein Mohebbi told state media that the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz “has its own specific mechanism and has nothing to do with the negotiations between Iran and Oman.”
Al Jazeera added that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said a joint statement could be expected with Oman if a deal is reached to bring back some traffic to the strait, which has been mostly disrupted since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on February 28.
