Strait of Hormuz Will Not Reopen Until US Pays War Compensation to Iran

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The strait will only be reopened if the United States meets a list of demands, including paying compensation for war damage.

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council set out the list of conditions on Saturday (8/8/2026) for reopening the strait. These conditions include ending the war on all fronts, lifting the US blockade of Iranian ports, ending sanctions, unfreezing frozen assets, and compensation for war damage.

The conditions reinforce the terms of the June agreement, which included provisions to create a US$300 billion reconstruction fund for Iran.

On Sunday (9/8/2026), Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said their strategy was to maintain their blockade “until the enemy accepts all our conditions… the strait is now truly a battlefield for us and not just a waterway”.

Tehran insists on maintaining control over Hormuz after the war and wants to charge fees for shipping. Iran has repeatedly attacked ships it accuses of trying to avoid its preferred route.

Iran’s effective blockade of this critical energy chokepoint has disrupted markets and driven up prices. However, US President Donald Trump said on Sunday (9/8/2026) that he was “being calm” in his approach towards Tehran.

“We are being calm. We are only half negotiating with them. We are just watching Iran with very high inflation and the fact that they have no money. This will work,” Trump said about his approach in an interview with Axios media.