Iran Says Hormuz Will Be Opened If War Reparations Are Paid in Full
Following the latest ultimatum from US President Donald Trump to Iran’s leadership, the regime remains adamant about its own demands.
The Strait of Hormuz, vital for the global oil and gas market, will only be reopened “if, within the framework of a new legal order, the damage from the imposed war is fully compensated from part of the transit fees,” wrote Mehdi Tabatabaei, a communications official in the office of Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian.
The naval command of the Revolutionary Guard Corps, Iran’s powerful elite force, was quoted by domestic media as stating that the Strait of Hormuz “will never return to its previous condition, especially for the United States and Israel.” Iran claims control over the entire route and plans to implement a tariff system for shipping passing through.
Shortly afterwards, the Revolutionary Guard reported that the head of their intelligence division, Majid Khadami, was killed in an attack. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz stated that the military had “eliminated” Khadami. He was said to be directly responsible for a deadly rocket attack on Israeli civilians.
Iran’s threats also target the Red Sea
In addition, harsh warnings emerged from Tehran. If the United States and Israel escalate attacks, other vital shipping routes for the global energy market beyond the Strait of Hormuz could also be threatened, said Ali Akbar Velayati. He is a foreign policy advisor to Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran’s new supreme leader.
Those that could be affected include the Bab al-Mandab Strait, which serves as the gateway to the Red Sea and onwards to the Suez Canal in the north, as reported by the state station Press TV.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf wrote on platform X that “war crimes” would achieve nothing. The only solution is “to respect the rights of the Iranian people and end this dangerous game.” He warned that “reckless steps” could set the entire region ablaze.
Trump lashes out again
Trump on Sunday (5 April) wrote in very crude terms on his platform Truth Social about Iran in connection with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. This statement provoked Iran’s fury, leading them to demand war reparations before opening the strait.
President Trump has given leaders in Tehran until Tuesday (7 April) night to meet demands to open the Strait of Hormuz. He has postponed the ultimatum for the third time.
The new deadline ends on Tuesday at 20:00 Washington time. “If they do nothing by Tuesday night, there will be no power plants or bridges left,” Trump told The Wall Street Journal.
Pakistan proposes peace plan
Meanwhile, US news portal Axios reported that the United States, Iran, and regional mediators are engaged in a “last-ditch” effort to negotiate terms for a 45-day ceasefire. Axios cited four sources from the US, Israel, and the region. This is described as the last chance to prevent dramatic escalation.
According to the report, Pakistan has submitted a concept to leaders in Washington and Tehran. Pakistan’s plan includes a two-phase approach: an immediate ceasefire, followed by a comprehensive agreement.
Iran confirmed it has received the plan, according to an official. However, the Islamic Republic is unwilling to agree to a temporary ceasefire and will not open the Strait of Hormuz for that purpose, a source told Reuters. Iran emphasises that it will not bow to pressure or ultimatums.
New attacks cause major damage in Kuwait
At the same time, the Iranian regime launched fresh drone and missile attacks on Gulf states. According to local authorities, civilian infrastructure was again targeted.
Iranian drones caused “severe” damage to several oil and petrochemical facilities in Kuwait, according to the state oil company. Several facilities were reported to have caught fire.
Kuwait’s Ministry of Electricity and Water also stated that two power generation and seawater desalination facilities were damaged by Iranian drone attacks. The attacks caused “significant material damage and the shutdown of two power plant units.”
The Ministry of Finance added that Iranian drone attacks in Kuwait City caused “extensive” damage to a government building. In aerial attacks on residential areas, six people were reported injured.
Bahrain and UAE hit again
In Bahrain, the state-owned energy company reported that Iranian drone attacks sparked a fire in a storage tank, which was later extinguished.
Authorities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) reported that the port of Khor Fakkan on the country’s east coast, near the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz, was targeted in an attack. Four people were injured by falling debris when an unidentified projectile was intercepted.
The UK’s Maritime Trade Operations agency (UKMTO) also reported the incident and mentioned an “unidentified projectile” that fell “near” a container ship being loaded at the port.