Iran Sets Conditions for United States on Possible Strait of Hormuz Reopening

Iran engaged in talks with the United States on Wednesday, September 23 in New York, through a Qatari mediator, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, according to a spokesman for Iran's Foreign Ministry.

Tehran used these exchanges to set several conditions, notably the end of war "on all fronts" and a halt to what Iran describes as "acts of aggression" by Washington. These demands come amid heightened tensions between the two countries, marked in recent months by exchanges of threats and military developments in the Gulf region.

Qatar's mediating role in these discussions illustrates the unique position of the small Gulf emirate, which maintains communication channels with Tehran while upholding close ties with Washington, making it a privileged intermediary in negotiations between the two rival nations.

While Iran's stated conditions do not explicitly mention the Strait of Hormuz, the question of security in this strategic maritime passage—through which a significant share of the world's oil transits—remains closely tied to regional tensions between Tehran and Washington, particularly given Western concerns about a potential Iranian blockade of the strait in the event of escalation.

No concrete outcome has been announced so far from these exchanges, which are expected to continue in the coming days on the margins of the UN General Assembly proceedings, with the session running in New York through September 28.