Iran demands US concessions to open Strait of Hormuz as Trump cites progress

Iran has called on the United States to accept its list of demands to end the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, following remarks from President Donald Trump pointing to fresh progress toward ending the eight-month-old conflict.

Diplomatic mediators from Qatar and Pakistan are working to negotiate an end to the fighting, which began in late February following US and Israeli strikes that killed Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Tehran maintains that the crucial energy shipping route, which it shut down at the start of hostilities, could be reopened within two days if Washington satisfies its terms.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that military action and harsher sanctions would fail to end the standoff. Speaking to the state-run IRNA news agency, he emphasized that a resolution requires respectful dialogue and a focus on Tehran's conditions. Those terms include halting military actions across all fronts, releasing frozen Iranian assets, ending energy sanctions, and lifting the American blockade on Iran's ports.

Trump expressed confidence on social media that progress was underway following discussions at the White House with the prime minister of Qatar. While the US leader stated that American forces remain prepared for action, he characterized further strikes as unlikely, citing preferences among regional partners to avoid escalation.

Signs of a shift in Washington have emerged following recent midterm election losses for Trump's Republican Party, an outcome analysts linked in part to the ongoing warfare. Qatari foreign ministry representative Ibrahim Al-Hashmi confirmed that mediators are actively trying to bridge differences and reported that talks are advancing.

Despite diplomatic momentum, rhetoric from Iranian defense leaders remains defiant. Mohsen Rezaei, who heads Iran's Supreme National Security Council, publicly dismissed talk of compromise and called for Washington to accept Tehran's terms.

Meanwhile, regional security concerns persist across the Persian Gulf. In Saudi Arabia, air defense units intercepted a ballistic missile targeting Riyadh launched by Yemen's Houthi movement, which has conducted frequent strikes since a summer ceasefire collapsed. Israeli officials have also maintained a hardline posture, with Defence Minister Israel Katz warning that military objectives concerning Iran are not yet fully achieved.