Iran Maintains Hormuz Conditions as Pakistan Mediates Talks

Iran has reaffirmed that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the United States meets its conditions, as Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi visited Tehran to support diplomatic efforts to end the ongoing conflict.

Iran’s newly appointed Supreme National Security Council chief, Mohsen Rezaei, said Washington must end its military campaign against Iran, lift its naval blockade of Iranian ports, release frozen Iranian assets abroad and agree to a region-wide ceasefire covering Lebanon and Gaza.

“Until all conditions are met, the Strait will remain closed,” Rezaei said, according to Iranian media.

The remarks came as US President Donald Trump continued to alternate between threats of further military action and claims that a peace agreement could be reached soon.

Pakistan Steps Up Mediation

During his visit to Tehran, Naqvi met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. The meetings focused on strengthening political, economic, trade, cultural and security cooperation between Iran and Pakistan.

Islamabad is also working to mediate efforts to end the conflict.

Qatar, another mediator, said negotiations between Iran and Oman over shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz had reached an advanced stage. However, Iran stressed that any agreement with Oman regarding shipping routes would not automatically lead to the reopening of the strait.

Former US diplomat Alan Eyre said Iran appeared to be keeping the waterway closed to increase pressure on Washington and restore what Tehran sees as strategic deterrence against future attacks.

US and Houthi Attacks

Meanwhile, the US military said a Navy MH-60 helicopter fired two Hellfire missiles at a Panama-flagged cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman after the vessel allegedly ignored repeated warnings related to the US naval blockade of Iranian ports.

In the southern Red Sea, four crew members were reportedly killed in a suspected Houthi attack on a cargo vessel near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. Two Yemeni rescuers were also killed, according to Yemeni authorities.

The Houthi-run Saba news agency said the group had attacked a Saudi vessel carrying military equipment, although Saudi Arabia had not immediately responded to the claim.

The wider conflict has resulted in thousands of deaths since US and Israeli strikes on Iran began on February 28. Fighting has also spread to Lebanon, where Hezbollah has exchanged attacks with Israel.

The continuing closure of the Strait of Hormuz remains a major international concern because of the waterway’s importance to global energy and shipping markets.

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