Hormuz Crisis: Iran Says US Must Leave Region for Strait to Reopen

Amid the ongoing Hormuz crisis, an Iranian military spokesperson has declared on Friday that the Strait will reopen if the United States leaves the Middle East.

Writing on X, Army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia stated that such a withdrawal would enable regional nations to establish collective security and boost the global economy, adding that Iran would force a U.S. exit if it does not occur voluntarily.

The official did not clarify whether the demand encompasses all U.S. military personnel stationed in the region, forces deployed specifically for the ongoing conflict, or all civilian and military U.S. government employees.

Iran and the United States continue to present opposing narratives, with the Trump administration maintaining that the Strait of Hormuz is open and Tehran asserting that it is closed to all traffic unless Iranian authorities grant permission, despite reliable reports earlier this month that oil exports from the Persian Gulf are increasing again to levels close to pre-war levels.

Marisks, a Greek marine risk firm, issued a warning on Thursday that ships are still vulnerable to “indiscriminate attacks,” even if they have disabled their monitoring systems, as many have been doing in order to evade discovery.

Iranian navy says a tanker is burning in the Gulf of Oman

Meanwhile, In the Gulf of Oman, east of the Strait of Hormuz, the Iranian navy said on Friday that it had discovered a burning ship in what it described as a forbidden area.

According to a statement from the Navy’s public affairs office, military surveillance teams “found and identified a violating oil tanker that had caught fire in a restricted area.”

The vessel had “switched off its tracking systems and was attempting to pass through a prohibited area in the Gulf of Oman.”

The Navy stated that “the consequences of uncoordinated movements along routes and in restricted regions are the creation of insecurity and major hazards for other boats,” though it did not clarify how the tanker caught fire.

This week, at least three suspected Iranian attacks on commercial vessels have occurred in the region.

Backstory…

The Hormuz Crisis has deepened as Iran insists that the United States must meet its conditions before the Strait of Hormuz can fully reopen to international shipping.

Iran’s position follows a series of failed diplomatic efforts to end the conflict. In September, Tehran proposed a seven-day roadmap to reopen the strategic waterway if Washington lifted its naval blockade, eased oil sanctions and observed a ceasefire.

The proposal was transmitted through mediators, including Qatar, but US President Donald Trump rejected it.

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