Iran Guards say won't reopen Hormuz without U.S. meeting all Tehran's conditions

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has declared that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the United States meets a comprehensive list of conditions set by Tehran. Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, an Iranian security official, stated that the current strategy is to maintain the closure until the U.S. ceases what Iran describes as war and aggression against Iran and its regional allies in Lebanon, Palestine, Yemen, and Iraq.

The announcement signals an escalation in regional tensions, as the IRGC explicitly links the maritime blockade to broader geopolitical conflicts. By conditioning the reopening of this critical global shipping lane on the cessation of U.S. military and political activities in the Middle East, Iran has positioned the Strait of Hormuz as a central leverage point in its ongoing standoff with Washington.