Tehran Sets Terms for Potential US Deal Amid Strait of Hormuz Standoff

As President Donald Trump signals a possible end to hostilities, Tehran is hardening its stance on the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s state media reports that any draft agreement hinges on the release of $24 billion in frozen assets and the lifting of a naval blockade, while explicitly rejecting any loss of control over the vital shipping route.

The proposed framework, circulated by the Mehr news agency, outlines a broader settlement that includes a ceasefire across all fronts, including Lebanon, and a 60-day window for nuclear negotiations. Tehran is demanding $300 billion in reconstruction reparations from the US and its allies, alongside the suspension of sanctions targeting oil and petrochemical exports. According to the reported draft, the naval blockade imposed on April 13 must be dismantled as a prerequisite for any meaningful progress.

Despite the optimistic tone from Washington regarding a swift conclusion to the war, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei maintains that no final agreement has been reached. Tehran’s position on its nuclear program remains firm: the government intends to retain its right to uranium enrichment and keep its current stockpiles, framing these as non-negotiable principles. Since the outbreak of conflict on February 28, Iran has tightened its grip on the Strait of Hormuz, enforcing a strict permit system for all vessels transiting the bottleneck. The state news agency IRNA confirmed that the current draft ensures Iran retains management of the passage, explicitly ruling out a return to the pre-war status quo.