Iran Rules Out Nuclear Concessions as Hormuz Stays Shut Until US Meets Demands

Iran has ruled out any flexibility on its nuclear programme even if the United States accepts its proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a senior Iranian official said, adding that the waterway will stay closed until Washington meets every condition set by Tehran.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the strait would remain shut until "all of Iran's conditions are met" by the United States.

Under the proposal outlined by Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, Tehran has offered to reopen the strategically vital waterway. Within seven days, hostilities would end on all fronts, including Lebanon; the United States would lift its blockade on Iranian ports, release Iran's frozen funds and waive its oil sanctions.

The offer comes after seven months of war between Iran and the United States, a conflict that has sharply raised Middle East tensions, with Iran-backed Houthi militias in Yemen firing missiles and drones at Saudi Arabia.

The Strait of Hormuz has emerged as the central bargaining chip in efforts to end the conflict. Iran is seeking relief from the US blockade that is choking its economy, while Washington wants free passage for ships on the global oil supply route now blocked by Tehran.

Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said he hoped a deal with Washington to end the hostilities could be reached before the US midterm elections on November 3.

Tehran has said it would be ready to enter detailed negotiations over its nuclear programme only after the United States meets its conditions. The senior official, however, said Iran would give no concessions over its rights, including enriching uranium or shipping its highly enriched uranium out of the country — one of Washington's main demands.

Israel, the United States and other Western states have long accused Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons, pointing to its enrichment of uranium to 60%, far above the level needed for civilian use and closer to the 90% required for a weapon. Iran denies seeking nuclear arms.

The International Atomic Energy Agency estimated that Iran held 440.9 kg of uranium enriched to 60% when Israel and the United States attacked Iranian nuclear facilities in June 2025. How much of that stockpile survived is unclear.

Iranian authorities have said the country could agree to dilute its most highly enriched uranium. In May, it was reported that Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei had issued a directive that Iran's highly enriched uranium should not be sent abroad, according to two senior Iranian sources.