New Delhi (India) August 9: Around the decision to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, Iran put forward dramatic new demands, including compensation for war damage and an "unconditional" lift of the frozen assets.
The Strait of Hormuz would only be opened after the US had corrected its behaviour, Iran's politburo like executive, Supreme National Security Council, added around issuing new demands which might destabilize the negotiations of a deal for a management over the strait.
Iran Demands War Compensation
The new demands proposed by Iran's Supreme National Security Council, were unveiled through their state media, in a document signed by Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, who is a commander in the Revolutionary Guard.
The demands said that the US must never again threaten Iran, it must permanently end the war with Iran and its armed allies in the region, the naval blockade of Iranian ports must be lifted and US troops withdrawn, the US must completely compensate the war damage Iran had been subjected to, the sanctions lifted and frozen assets 'unconditionally' released."
No comments were immediately available from the United States.
Araghchi Signals Oman Talks
Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, on Saturday said the country was close to an agreement with Oman on navigation management across the Strait.
“The opening of the Strait is subject to other conditions, including the compensation for the US’s violations of the Islamabad Agreement,” Araghchi said.
Oman, acting as mediator, has been quiet on the negotiations and on Saturday announced that talks continue in a positive and constructive atmosphere and condemned attacks on vessels traversing the strait.
UAE Reports Ship Attack
The UAE claimed a ship owned by state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) was attacked while traversing the strait and that Iran's missiles had been the projectile during attacks on commercial vessels. ADNOC reported no casualties from the attack. ADNOC estimated that over a dozen of their ships had been hit by missiles and drones traversing the strait after the US and Israel declared a war against Iran in February; one ship member lost their lives and twenty have been injured. The company did not disclose more about the damage or where it occurred.
Later on Saturday, the UKMTO stated that a vessel had been hit by a projectile off Oman but they were unable to confirm whether this was the same vessel referenced by ADNOC and the UAE.