Iran demands U.S. troops leave Middle East before Strait of Hormuz reopens

Iran’s national security chief Ali Akbar Ahmadian has demanded the U.S. withdraw its forces from the Middle East before Iran reopens the Strait of Hormuz to full commercial traffic. Speaking after talks in Muscat with Oman’s foreign minister, Ahmadian listed three conditions: a lifting of the U.S. naval blockade on Iranian ports, compensation for damage from past conflicts, and the release of around $10 billion in frozen Iranian assets held abroad. The Strait of Hormuz, which carries about one-fifth of the world’s oil supply, has seen periodic disruptions since 2019 when tensions between Tehran and Washington flared after the U.S. pulled out of the nuclear deal and reimposed sanctions.

The demand comes amid a new push by Iran to reassert control over the waterway while avoiding direct military escalation. Since 2021, Iran has periodically seized or harassed commercial vessels in the Gulf and Red Sea, citing Israeli strikes on its allies in Gaza and Lebanon. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have also stepped up drone and missile strikes against U.S. bases in Iraq and Syria, prompting retaliatory U.S. airstrikes. The latest move reflects a broader strategy: Iran wants to pressure the U.S. into easing sanctions without making major concessions on its nuclear program or regional influence.

Oman, a key mediator between Iran and the West, confirmed it is close to finalizing an agreement with Tehran to jointly manage traffic in the Strait. Omani officials say the deal would include joint patrols, emergency response protocols, and a mechanism to resolve disputes with commercial ships. While the pact would not remove Iran’s ability to disrupt shipping, it could reduce the risk of accidental escalation. Meanwhile, U.S. officials have dismissed Iran’s demands as “unrealistic” and warned that any blockade would be met with a military response. Analysts say Iran’s tactics are designed to chip away at U.S. deterrence while avoiding a full confrontation ahead of Iran’s June presidential election.

If the talks with Oman stall, Iran could resume its pattern of harassing vessels or threatening to close the Strait altogether—a move that would send global oil prices surging. Washington, already stretched by multiple crises in Ukraine and the Red Sea, would face a tough choice: negotiate under pressure or risk a military clash that could destabilize the Gulf further. Either way, the outcome will shape the balance of power in one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes—and determine whether diplomacy or confrontation dominates the region in the months ahead.