Iran says Strait of Hormuz reopening hinges on US accepting its terms

ANBAR, Iraq — Iran's Supreme National Security Council Secretary General Brigadier General Mohsen Rezaei said the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz depends on the United States accepting Iran's conditions and ending war in the region. Rezaei told AFP on Tuesday that ending conflicts in the region, including in Lebanon, and releasing frozen Iranian funds were required in exchange for reopening the strait. He noted that any agreement between Iran and Oman on passage through the waterway was independent of its "closure," and said mediators had conveyed Iran's conditions to the United States. Rezaei also said Iran was going through a historically "sensitive and decisive" period, with the goal of emerging stronger. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian appointed Rezaei to replace Brigadier General Mohammad Baqer Zolghadr at the recommendation of Mojtaba Khamenei, who also designated Rezaei as his representative on the Security Council.