The United States is demanding that Iran make a public declaration affirming that the Strait of Hormuz remains open and that vessels transiting this critical waterway will no longer face attacks, senior US officials disclosed on Friday. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the officials revealed that internal power struggles within Tehran have complicated efforts to reach and sustain any agreement.
Ceasefire Fragility and Hard-Liner Sabotage
The officials stated that the resumption of strikes this week was instigated by what they described as a rogue faction of Iranian hard-liners attempting to sabotage the interim ceasefire between Tehran and Washington. This development follows US President Donald Trump's social media declaration on Friday that he considers the ceasefire deal “OVER!” However, Trump indicated that negotiations would continue toward a permanent resolution to the conflict.
The US officials emphasized that Trump has imposed a limited timeframe for negotiators to secure a deal with Iran, while underscoring the president's broad range of options should talks collapse. They also highlighted a real-time power struggle in Iran following the death of longtime leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in US and Israeli strikes at the start of the war.
Iran's Stance on Strait Control
The US is working to press Iran into issuing a public statement guaranteeing the Strait of Hormuz—a vital artery for global energy markets—is open and free for maritime transit. However, shortly before the US officials spoke, Tehran's UN diplomat, Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani, told reporters outside the Security Council that any activity in the strait, including its opening or demining operations, “rests exclusively with Iran.” Iravani warned that external interference would violate the interim deal, delay the restoration of normal commercial navigation, jeopardize maritime safety, and increase regional tensions.
Iran has asserted that the strait must now fall under its sole control and that vessels should pay fees to Tehran, despite the waterway being internationally recognized for decades. Before the war, roughly one-fifth of all traded oil and natural gas passed through the strait. Iran's grip on the corridor during the conflict triggered a global energy crisis, though oil prices have since dropped sharply from wartime highs of $120 per barrel.
Nuclear Deal Conditions and Military Options
The US officials stated that any nuclear agreement would require Iran to surrender its stockpile of highly enriched uranium. If no deal is reached, the US has military options to ensure the material remains buried underground forever, though the officials declined to elaborate. The highly enriched material, potentially usable for nuclear weapons, is believed to be buried after US strikes on Iran last summer. Iran maintains that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.
The officials stressed that a nuclear deal would be impossible unless Iran first abides by the ceasefire terms and halts renewed attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
Unclaimed Strikes and Regional Tensions
No group claimed responsibility for airstrikes that hit Iran on Friday after the US ended its own attacks, raising questions about other parties targeting the Islamic Republic. Iranian state media quoted Esmail Kousari, a member of parliament's national security committee and former Revolutionary Guard commander, warning that the UAE would “pay the price for its cooperation with the United States.” He accused the Emirates of a “behind-the-scenes” role in recent US attacks.
US Central Command spokesperson Captain Tim Hawkins said there were “no operational updates” following Trump's ceasefire pronouncement. Gulf Arab states, repeatedly targeted by Iran since the war began on February 28, did not immediately comment. Israel, which participated in the Iran war, also did not claim recent attacks. The strikes on Thursday, coinciding with preparations for Khamenei's burial, hit areas across southern Iran. Iran's theocracy has not directly blamed anyone, though one lawmaker warned the UAE about alleged support for the US campaign. In response, Iran launched a wider volley of attacks across the Middle East, targeting Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, and Qatar. One person was reportedly injured in Kuwait as air defense systems intercepted incoming fire.
Diplomatic Efforts and Mediation
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi plans to discuss the strait with his Omani counterpart on Saturday in Oman, according to Iran's state-run IRNA news agency. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan expressed optimism to state broadcaster TRT, saying he believed “a solution can be reached” this weekend between Iran and Oman, which lie on opposite sides of the waterway. The US continues to advise mariners to use a southern route through Oman's territorial waters to avoid Iran.
The UAE's leader, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, traveled to Kuwait immediately after the Iranian attack for a meeting with the ruling emir. Gulf Arab countries also held calls with Qatar's foreign minister, who has been deeply involved in mediating Iran-US talks alongside Pakistan. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he spoke separately with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, urging restraint and diplomacy. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with Trump on Thursday night, with Trump updating Netanyahu on American moves in the Gulf. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz renewed threats, stating, “If we will have to return, we will return with even greater force.”
