Iran Says Hormuz Closure Will Continue Until U.S. Meets Demands, Analysts Say Strategy May Target Trump’s Term
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Iran announced the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the United States lifts sanctions and meets other conditions, while U.S. officials discuss possible responses as the strategic petroleum reserve hits a multi-decade low.
Iran announced on Monday that the Strait of Hormuz will stay closed until the United States fulfills a series of demands, including the removal of U.S. sanctions, the end of the naval blockade, the withdrawal of American forces from the region, the release of frozen Iranian assets and an end to attacks on Iran’s allies. The New York Times reported the list also calls for war reparations and compensation for U.S. service members killed in the conflict.
U.S. officials, speaking to the Wall Street Journal, said President Donald Trump may be willing to negotiate without a nuclear deal, though his public statements on Truth Social have included additional demands such as compensation for families of Iranian protestors killed over the past decades.
Iranian officials appear to be timing negotiations to extend beyond the upcoming U.S. midterm elections, hoping that high gasoline prices and war fatigue could affect Republican electoral prospects. Majid Shakeri, a senior adviser linked to Iran’s parliament, wrote on X that Iran’s strategy is to “manage the process of neither war nor peace, up to the point of victory.” Brig. Gen. Mohammad Reza Naqdi told PBS NewsHour that prolonging the conflict could increase the cost for any future aggressor.
Separately, the U.S. Department of Energy reported that the Strategic Petroleum Reserve fell by 6.1 million barrels, leaving it just under 300 million barrels – the lowest level since 1983. Analysts note the drawdown reflects broader supply-chain pressures and the economic impact of current policies.
The situation underscores ongoing tensions in the region and the challenges both sides face in reaching a durable resolution.