Iran says Hormuz won't fully reopen until US accepts its terms; third US carrier heads in
Iran will not fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz until the United States accepts its terms, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in an interview aired on Wednesday. Meanwhile, US media reported that a third American aircraft carrier is heading to the Middle East.
Tehran's line
"Until an agreement or understanding is reached regarding this strait, it will not be open to everyone," Araghchi told Iraqi state television, The National reported.
He repeated that Iran was preparing for possible renewed US and Israeli military action, despite its stated preference for diplomacy. "The nuclear issue is nothing more than a pretext," he added.
Every possibility exists in the future, including the possibility that the Americans and the Zionist regime will launch another war against Iran.
Pakistan's mediation stalls
Field Marshal Asim Munir met President Masoud Pezeshkian, parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and Supreme National Security Council secretary Mohsen Rezaei in Tehran on Tuesday. Iranian media said he was told there would be no talks with Washington until Iran's demands are met, Reuters reported via Arab News.
Pakistan brokered a temporary peace deal in June, the "Islamabad memorandum". It broke down within weeks when fighting resumed.
| Who | Position |
|---|---|
| Iran (Qalibaf) | US must meet seven conditions, including ending its blockade of Iranian ports, lifting oil sanctions and ending hostilities on all fronts |
| Iran (Rezaei) | All enriched nuclear material stays in Iran |
| US (Vance, this month) | Iran must significantly reduce its enrichment capacity |
| US (Rubio) | Economic pressure continues until attacks on commercial shipping stop |
Sources: Reuters via Arab News; Stocktwits via Yahoo Finance (Rubio).
Military signals
The Financial Times reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pushed for large-scale strikes on Iran. A plan was shelved because Trump did not want to restart the war before the 3 November midterms, the FT's sources said.
CNN reported last week that US strike plans could include the GBU-43/B "Mother of All Bombs" against energy and nuclear sites if Trump orders renewed combat. Iranian officials, for their part, threatened undersea cables and data centres if fighting resumes.
