Iran Says Deal is Close on Strait of Hormuz But Continues Targeting Ships, Demands US Lift Naval Blockade – Vance Says US Pressure Will Continue (VIDEO)

Iran said on Saturday that negotiations to reopen the Strait of Hormuz are close to completion, but made new demands from the US, including an end to the Naval blockade.  

Oman is currently negotiating with Iran to reach an agreement on the use of the Strait of Hormuz, which is crucial to ending the US blockade.

According to CBS, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said negotiations with Oman are “approaching the final stages.” Still, “this is not a sign of the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz,” he said.

“The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz is subject to other conditions and compensation for the violation of the memorandum of understanding by the United States.”

Iran’s demands reportedly include an end to the blockade, compensation for war damages, an end to sanctions, and the release of frozen assets as conditions to continue negotiations.

More from Fox:

Vice President JD Vance, who is leading the negotiations for the US, said on Fox News this morning that the US is talking directly with Iran and is “most focused” on “trying to maximize the amount of oil and gas that is coming out of the Strait of Hormuz.”

“We’re just trying to make sure that we get what we need out of this particular conflict. We’ve destroyed their nuclear program, we’ve destroyed their conventional military, we’ve radically reduced their asymmetric military abilities, and right now, we’re trying to see if they’re willing to make the kind of long-term changes that would be necessary to have a better relationship with the United States,” Vance added. “If not, that’s fine too. We’re just going to keep on applying the pressure that we can apply and getting as much oil and gas out of the Middle East so that Americans can enjoy lower gas and energy prices.”

WATCH:

US Central Command announced on Saturday that CENTCOM forces have redirected 53 commercial vessels, disabled two, and boarded two in its ongoing blockade of Iranian ports. 

U.S. Sailors conduct maintenance on F/A-18E Super Hornets on the flight deck of aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) to ensure carrier strike group assets remain mission ready to enforce the U.S. blockade against Iran. As of Aug. 8, CENTCOM redirected 53 commercial… pic.twitter.com/V3dleQ6zBR

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) August 8, 2026

Video released by CENTCOM last month shows US forces conducting a “verification boarding” on a Comoros-flagged tanker in the Arabian Sea and attacking a Mozambique-flagged tanker in the Gulf of Oman after it “attempted to violate the blockade multiple times.”

WATCH:

Per CBS:

Iran’s politburo-like body known as the Supreme National Security Council said the Strait of Hormuz will not open until the United States “corrects its behavior,” issuing new demands that could shake up talks on a deal to manage the waterway and traffic on it.

Iran’s state broadcaster published the statement by the council’s secretary, Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, who is also a commander in the powerful Revolutionary Guard.

The U.S. must never threaten Iran again, the statement said, and must permanently end the war with Iran and its armed allies in the region. The U.S. must lift the naval blockade of Iranian ports and withdraw its military from the area. It also must “completely compensate” Iran for war damage, lift sanctions and “unconditionally” release frozen assets.

There was no immediate comment from the U.S., which has wanted an acceptable deal first on the strait before ending the blockade. According to the interim deal signed in June, a schedule to end sanctions and plan on compensation would be part of the final deal, and negotiations would address frozen assets.

Iran also launched a missile at an Abu Dhabi National Oil Company tanker in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, which the state-owned oil company said is the third attack this week.