Mohebi told Iran’s Tasnim news agency that the strait is “not merely an economic waterway” for Iran but also a geopolitical and strategic asset.

He said reopening the strait depends on Washington fully accepting Iran’s conditions and ending its involvement in the regional negotiations, adding that the waterway would be reopened once the United States accepts Tehran’s demands.

Iran has linked the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to conditions it wants the United States to meet, while talks with Oman continue over the establishment of a new shipping route through the strait.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi said Wednesday that an understanding between Iran and Oman on new arrangements for commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz was nearing completion. He stressed, however, that the agreement would not mean the strait had been reopened, noting that much of the proposed route would pass through Iranian territorial waters.

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Gharibabadi described the proposed route as temporary and said it could remain in operation for two to four months. Asked whether the United States’ return to an agreement reached in mid-June was necessary for reopening the strait, he said it could be considered a necessary condition, but not a sufficient one.

He added that implementing the understanding would require the United States to meet several conditions related to the blockade, the war, the situation in Lebanon, sanctions reimposed by Washington, previously lifted sanctions that were restored, frozen Iranian funds and a firm commitment to continue the process and fulfill future obligations.

Earlier, a U.S. official told Reuters on Friday that talks between Iran and Oman on reopening the Strait of Hormuz had made progress, with an agreement expected soon to restore commercial shipping. The official said Washington would lift its blockade of Iranian ports once an agreement was announced and shipping resumed.

Axios also quoted a diplomat from one of the mediating countries as saying that the Iranian negotiating team was awaiting final approval from the Supreme National Security Council for an agreement involving Oman and the United States. Tehran announced Friday that it had reached a general framework for an understanding with Oman over the Strait of Hormuz.