US demands Iran declare Hormuz open
Officials said the United States has told Iran to announce the Strait of Hormuz is open and that ship attacks will stop, a test for energy markets.
Mateo Fernandez ·
U.S. officials said on Friday the United States has demanded Iran make a public statement declaring the Strait of Hormuz open and that ships crossing the corridor will no longer be attacked. The demand followed a fresh round of strikes this week that officials described as coming from a rogue faction of hard-liners.
US demands public Hormuz pledge
Officials said internal power struggles in Tehran have complicated negotiations and helped fuel the recent resumption of strikes after an earlier de‑escalation. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to describe the state of play between Washington and Tehran.
Officials said the demand aims to give commercial shippers and insurers a clear signal that transit risks have been addressed. Disruption in the Strait of Hormuz affects crude flows and shipping routes; any sustained attacks could raise freight and insurance costs and put upward pressure on crude prices.
The immediate diplomatic test is whether Tehran issues a public declaration accepting the conditions the United States set. Market participants will monitor tanker movements, insurance spreads and official statements closely.
Watch for a public Iranian statement by July 17, 2026; that date will serve as an early benchmark for whether the corridor’s security has meaningfully improved.