Iran sets conditions for reopening of Hormuz

strait fight | Transit via waterway depends on US accepting Tehran’s terms on shipping, not on talks with Oman, says IRGC

Mumbai: Iran’s Revolutio­nary Guard said reopening the Strait of Hormuz was unrelated to Iran-Oman negotiations and depended on the US accepting Tehran’s conditions and ending restrictions on Iranian shipping.

‘Iran-Oman pact near, US violated MoU’

Iran and Oman are “very close” to reaching an agreement on a new shipping route through the strait, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said.

“We are very close to reaching an agreement,” Araghchi said, adding, there would be conditions, including compensation for what Tehran described as US violations of the Islamabad MoU. Iran and Oman discussed a temporary shipping route while technical and legal issues about a permanent route were resolved.

Pezeshkian: Iran won’t surrender

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reaffirmed Teh­ran’s commitment to dialogue while saying Iran would not surrender under pressure. Peze­shkian defended his government’s decision to negotiate with the US and sign the MoU on ending the conflict. 

He said Iran would honour its obligations as long as the US fulfilled its commitments. “Wherever they fail to fulfil their commitment, we have no obligation to continue.”

US resolution to end Trump’s ‘illegal war’

US Senator John Hicken­loo­per introduced a War Powers Resolution directing Trump to remove US forces from hostilities against Iran unless Congress explicitly authorises the war. The resolution says Congress has neither declared war on Iran nor approved a specific authorisation for the use of military force, and argues the administration failed to end hostilities within the period required under the War Powers Resolution. 

“President Trump’s illegal war in Iran has been a complete and total disaster that has cost American lives, sent prices skyrocketing, and drained our military stockpiles,” Hickenlooper said.

He said Congress should intervene if Trump does not end the conflict, adding: “We need to get out of Iran and get back to lowering costs for working families.” 

US sanctions crypto exchanges 

The US has sanctioned two digital asset exchanges and a network of firms it accused of helping Iran launder billions of dollars, evade sanctions and support IRGC. The action targets six entities and one individual in Iran, Georgia, Poland and the UAE.

with inputs from Agencies 

Iran hit Abu Dhabi National Oil Company tanker: UAE The United Arab Emirates says Iran targeted a tanker belonging to the state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company while it was transiting Hormuz. The Foreign Ministry, in a statement, condemned “the hostile Iranian attack that targeted a tanker belonging to ADNOC with a missile while it was transiting the Strait of Hormuz, without causing casualties”. On Friday, ADNOC had put out a statement saying that since the start of the war, 15 of its vessels had been attacked in Hormuz, “including three vessels this week alone”.

US general seeks conflict off-ramp 

Top US general Dan Caine has privately told Trump’s advisers Washing­ton needs an off-ramp from the conflict with Iran, CNN repo­rted. The Chair­man of the Joint Chiefs of Staff believes further military escalation could “backfire” and airpower alone is unlikely to achieve Trump’s objectives. Caine and cabinet members reported­ly consider it “unlikely” airstrikes alone could force Iran to accept Trump’s terms.