The defective government of Iran is crazy with their demands that USA President Trump will never accept.
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway between Iran and Oman that ships must pass through to leave the Persian Gulf. About one-fifth of the world’s oil and natural gas normally travels that route, so when traffic is disrupted, fuel prices and shipping costs often rise.
Iran is saying it will keep the strait effectively closed or tightly restricted until the United States meets seven conditions from a June agreement. Those conditions broadly involve ending military pressure, lifting a naval blockade on Iranian ports, easing sanctions on Iranian oil, and releasing frozen Iranian money.
Iranian officials have framed this as non-negotiable and have rejected the idea that they offered nuclear inspections in exchange for sanctions relief. This is happening during a conflict that began in late February 2026 involving the US, Israel, and Iran. Commercial ship traffic through the strait is down to roughly 7% of normal levels, and some tankers have been hit by projectiles in nearby waters. Iran is also signaling it is extending the range of its missiles. In short, Tehran is using control of a vital oil route as leverage while talks remain stalled.
