Iran Guards say won't reopen Hormuz without US meeting Tehran's demands

Iran's Revolutionary Guards have declared they will not reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz until the United States meets their list of demands, including compensating for war damage and lifting sanctions. The closure of the crucial energy conduit has caused market turmoil and raised prices, putting pressure on US President Donald Trump as the November midterm elections approach.

Tehran insists on retaining control of the strait and wants to charge tolls for passage, a move that led to the collapse of an April ceasefire. Iran's Supreme National Security Council outlined the conditions for reopening the strait, which mirror the terms of the June memorandum, including a $300 billion reconstruction fund. The Guards stated their strategy is to maintain the blockade until their demands are fully met, treating the strait as a battlefield rather than a mere waterway.

Meanwhile, Houthi rebels in Yemen have declared their own maritime blockade of Saudi ports in the Red Sea, targeting Saudi oil facilities after a Saudi strike on a Houthi position in Yemen resulted in civilian casualties.