DUBAI: Iran has said the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the United States fulfills what Tehran describes as its commitments, despite an understanding reportedly reached with Oman over arrangements for passage through the strategic waterway.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said the agreement with Oman would not automatically lead to the reopening of the strait. Speaking through remarks carried by the Tasnim news agency on Sunday, he said Washington must first take practical steps before Iran responds.
“Whenever these commitments are implemented, Iran will also take its measures,” Gharibabadi said, adding that Tehran was in no hurry to reopen the waterway and would continue what it described as defensive measures, according to Arab News.
He said any vessel seeking to pass through the strait would require coordination and authorization from the Islamic Republic. He also pointed to mediation efforts by Qatar and Pakistan, which he said were aimed at exploring whether commitments under an earlier understanding could be restored.
The standoff comes after six months of war that has transformed Iran’s political and military leadership. The country’s ruling system has increasingly gathered around veteran military commanders and hard-line clerics, many of whom appear prepared for a long confrontation with the United States.
Iran’s leaders have shown little trust in a new agreement with President Donald Trump, particularly after being attacked while diplomatic talks were underway. At the same time, threats of further US sanctions and a continuing blockade have added pressure to an economy already struggling under years of isolation and restrictions.
Mohsen Rezaei, the new secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, warned last week that Tehran would respond strongly to further action by Washington. He said that if economic pressure continued, oil exports from the Arabian Gulf could face serious consequences.
The country’s new leadership was formally shaped by a series of decrees issued by Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei after senior figures, including his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, were killed in a US-Israeli bombing campaign on Feb. 28.
Among the most closely watched appointments was that of Hossein Taeb as head of the Basij, the powerful volunteer force linked to the Revolutionary Guard. Taeb, a hard-line cleric and former intelligence chief, previously played a major role in suppressing anti-government protests.
His appointment has been widely viewed as a sign that the leadership is preparing to prevent renewed unrest as economic hardship deepens. Many Iranians are struggling to afford basic goods, although there has so far been no major new wave of protests.
Analysts say the latest appointments have strengthened a close circle of longtime military and political allies. Sascha Bruchmann of the International Institute for Strategic Studies said the changes appeared aimed at strengthening unity within Iran’s ruling establishment.
Still, not everyone in Tehran supports an endless confrontation. President Masoud Pezeshkian remains one of the strongest voices calling for a negotiated settlement. His supporters argue that Iran risks damaging itself further if the conflict continues while its economy weakens.
The divide has created a difficult balance: hard-liners demand resistance and stronger control at home, while moderates warn that continued escalation could leave the country increasingly isolated.
As tensions rise, the Strait of Hormuz remains at the center of the crisis. For Iran, its closure has become more than a military measure. It is now a powerful symbol of leverage in a wider struggle with Washington, one that neither side appears ready to end.
