Washington wants Tehran to keep Hormuz open and halt attacks on commercial ships
The US is demanding that Iran publicly declare the Strait of Hormuz open and promise to stop firing on commercial ships, as both sides prepare for fresh negotiations after a week of dangerous fighting.
Washington wants Tehran to issue a clear statement before Saturday’s talks, according to US media reports citing unnamed officials. The message, delivered through regional mediators, is direct: Iran must say the Strait of Hormuz remains open and that commercial vessels will not be targeted.
US officials also want Iran to publicly acknowledge that the recent shooting at ships was a mistake. According to CBS News, the BBC’s US partner, Tehran has privately told advisers to President Donald Trump that the attacks should not have happened, while blaming an “errant” internal hardline group.
One official told CBS that Iranian representatives returned to the table and accepted they had made a mistake, while asking to keep negotiations alive.
Trump has said the US has agreed to continue talks, even though he also declared that the ceasefire was “over”. In a post on Truth Social, he said Iran had asked to continue negotiations, but added that Washington had made its position clear.
The dispute centres on the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important shipping routes. In June, the US and Iran signed a ceasefire agreement that included safe passage for commercial ships. This week’s attacks on vessels using a US-recommended route through Omani waters were seen by the White House as a violation of that deal.
Three ships were struck while travelling through the route. Iran has repeatedly said that the only safe passage is through its own waters, not the US-backed route.
Top US figures are expected to lead Saturday’s negotiations in Oman. Vice-President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner are all expected to be involved in the talks.
Qatar has also moved to calm the situation. A Qatari delegation travelled to Iran on Friday for discussions aimed at reducing tensions and easing navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
No fresh attacks were reported on Friday, after the Gulf region saw the worst exchange of fire between the US and Iran since the interim deal was signed in June. Still, the mood remains tense. A US official quoted by Reuters warned that if Tehran does not provide the requested statement, the outcome will not be good for Iran.
Last month’s 14-point memorandum of understanding was designed to extend the ceasefire and move both sides towards ending conflict on all fronts. It also required Iran and Oman to hold talks with other Gulf states about the future administration and maritime services in the Strait of Hormuz.
But Iran has pushed to assert sovereignty over the waterway. During the conflict, it announced a “Persian Gulf Strait Authority” to manage safe passage permits. Iran’s Fars news agency has also reported that the waterway could eventually be managed by Iran in coordination with Oman, with possible service fees for ships.
That vision sharply conflicts with Washington’s demand for open passage. For the US, the immediate priority is simple: Iran must stop shooting at ships and publicly say the route is open.
The Strait of Hormuz now sits at the heart of a fragile diplomatic test. If Iran gives the pledge, talks may continue. If it refuses, the ceasefire crisis could deepen again, with commercial shipping, Gulf security and global energy supplies all exposed to the next shock.