Iran sets new conditions for Strait of Hormuz reopening

Iran has issued new conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, saying the critical waterway will not open until the United States "corrects its behaviour", while the United Arab Emirates said one of its ships was targeted by an Iranian missile amid continuing tensions in the Middle East.

Iran's Supreme National Security Council said the US must permanently end the war with Iran and its armed allies, lift the naval blockade of Iranian ports and withdraw its military forces from the region.

The council also demanded that Washington "completely compensate" Iran for war damage, lift sanctions and "unconditionally" release frozen Iranian assets.

The statement was published by Iran's state broadcaster and attributed to council secretary Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, who is also a commander in the powerful Revolutionary Guard.

The United States, which has sought an acceptable agreement on the strait before ending its blockade, did not immediately comment.

Under an interim agreement signed in June, negotiations on sanctions, compensation and frozen Iranian assets were expected to form part of a final deal.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said earlier on Saturday that Tehran was close to reaching a separate agreement with Oman on navigation through the strait. However, he said reopening the waterway remained dependent on other conditions.

Araghchi blamed the situation on what he described as a US violation of the interim agreement.

Oman, which has been mediating between the sides, said talks were continuing "in a positive and constructive atmosphere" and condemned attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

The latest developments come as tensions remain high around the strategic waterway, through which a significant share of global energy supplies traditionally passes.

The UAE also reported that one of its ships had been targeted by an Iranian missile, adding another flashpoint to the continuing confrontation.

Elsewhere in the region, Yemen's military attacked Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, while Turkey's parliament approved a Kurdish peace bill in another significant regional development.