Iran could keep the Strait of Hormuz closed until the end of US President Donald Trump’s current term unless Washington agrees to Tehran’s demands, according to claims attributed to a senior Iranian source and Majid Shakeri, an adviser to Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.
The claim comes as Iran continues to link the reopening of the strategic waterway to major political, economic and military concessions from the United States.
Recent Iranian statements have already made clear that any agreement with Oman on establishing safe shipping routes would not automatically mean a full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran has said the waterway will remain closed until US conditions imposed on Iran are addressed.
Iran’s Demands For Reopening Hormuz
According to the reported Iranian position, Tehran’s demands include:
- $300 billion in compensation for damages caused by the conflict
- The release of up to $100 billion in frozen Iranian assets
- The lifting of US sanctions on Iran
- The withdrawal of US forces from the wider region
- An end to the US naval blockade of Iranian ports
- Acceptance of Iranian transit fees for ships using the Strait of Hormuz
Iranian officials have previously demanded compensation, sanctions relief, the withdrawal of US forces, an end to the naval blockade and the release of frozen assets as conditions for reopening the waterway.
The reported demand for transit fees would add another major obstacle to an agreement. Iran has previously argued that it should have a role in regulating shipping through the strategic waterway, while Washington has opposed any arrangement that would restrict freedom of navigation.
Why Hormuz Matters
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important energy corridors, carrying a significant share of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments. Its prolonged closure has therefore raised concerns over energy supplies, shipping costs and inflation.
The United States has been pushing for the waterway to reopen and for commercial vessels to be able to pass safely. Washington has also been discussing demining and arrangements to protect commercial shipping.
Iran, however, has increasingly used control over the strait as leverage in negotiations.
Oman Talks Continue
Oman has been mediating between Iran and the United States as the two sides seek arrangements for shipping through the waterway.
Iranian Foreign Ministry officials have said discussions with Oman are focused on creating safe routes for commercial vessels, but have stressed that such an arrangement should not be confused with a full reopening of Hormuz.
The reported 2029 timeline would represent a dramatic escalation in Tehran’s negotiating position. It would effectively tie the future of the waterway to the remainder of Trump’s presidency rather than to a short-term maritime agreement.
However, the claim that Iran has formally committed to keeping the Strait of Hormuz closed until 2029 has not been independently verified and should be treated as an Iranian-source assertion rather than an established policy.
For now, the central dispute remains whether Washington and Tehran can bridge their differences over sanctions, compensation, military deployments, frozen assets and control of one of the world’s most critical shipping routes.