Iran says US reply unconvincing, Hormuz stays shut until seven conditions met

Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said Washington's response to Iran's proposal was not convincing and that the Strait of Hormuz would reopen only if the United States fully meets Tehran's seven conditions.

Iran said on Tuesday that the U.S. response to its proposal for ending the war was not convincing, insisting that the Strait of Hormuz would stay closed until Washington accepts all of Tehran's seven conditions.

"America's response to Iran's rights and demands was not convincing, and they must fully and explicitly address Iran's seven conditions and act upon them; only in this case will the Strait of Hormuz be reopened," said Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, according to Iran International.

Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (file photo)

Iran and the United States have exchanged proposals through Qatari mediation in recent days, and Tehran has submitted a proposal setting out seven conditions, the West Asia News Agency reported. Last week Iranian negotiators discussed with mediators a plan to reopen the strait within two days once the conditions were met; they reportedly include lifting the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports and releasing frozen Iranian assets, the BBC reported.

Qatari mediators expect Washington and Tehran to respond within 36 hours to a new proposal aimed at advancing the talks, Reuters reported, citing an official briefed on the discussions. Qatar's foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari said both sides remained committed to mediation and were reviewing the proposals.

The Strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of global oil and gas shipments usually pass, has been effectively closed since the war began in February, when the United States and Israel attacked Iran. Overnight, the U.S. carried out what it described as "defensive" strikes on Iran's Qeshm Island after Iranian forces fired on a U.S. aircraft.

Iran says US reply unconvincing, Hormuz stays shut until seven conditions met