Iran says it has formally conveyed conditions to Washington for resuming negotiations aimed at ending the war with the United States and is now awaiting a response from President Donald Trump, as US forces maintain a naval blockade on Iranian oil exports while facilitating growing commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said Tehran communicated its demands through Qatar, which has been acting as an intermediary between the two sides.

Rezaei identified three central conditions for reaching a settlement: an end to the war “on all fronts”, the release of frozen Iranian assets and an end to the US naval blockade.

He said Tehran remained in contact with Qatari mediators and was waiting for Trump’s response. Pakistan has also continued diplomatic efforts between the two sides, although Iranian officials have said they were unaware of a specific new US proposal being carried by Islamabad.

The demands come at a potentially significant point in months of indirect diplomacy between Washington and Tehran, with military confrontation continuing alongside efforts by regional governments to establish a path back to negotiations.

More than one billion barrels pass through Hormuz

The diplomatic developments came as US Central Command said American forces had supported the passage of more than one billion barrels of crude oil out of the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz during the past two months.

CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper said oil, liquefied natural gas and other commercial cargo passing through the waterway during the previous two weeks had reached its highest level in six months.

The US military said more than 2,000 commercial vessels had passed through the strait with American support during that period.

Cooper said Washington would continue working with regional partners as well as commercial shipping and insurance companies to increase traffic through the strategically vital waterway.

At the same time, he said the US was maintaining what he described as an “ironclad blockade” preventing Iranian oil exports.

The two policies illustrate Washington’s strategy in the strait: attempting to restore the movement of international energy supplies while continuing to restrict Iran’s ability to export its own crude.

Iran sets conditions for diplomacy

Iran and the United States have maintained indirect diplomatic contacts despite months of fighting.

Rezaei said Tehran was prepared to pursue a negotiated settlement but argued that Washington would first have to address Iran’s demands.

The Iranian official also adopted a harder military tone, saying Tehran had altered its strategy towards the United States after previous diplomatic efforts broke down. He said Iran had strengthened preparations for further American attacks and claimed Tehran had recently tested an anti ship missile near a US aircraft carrier. Those military claims have not been independently verified.

Iran has meanwhile stopped short of announcing a change to its formal nuclear doctrine.

Rezaei said Tehran remained committed to the late supreme leader’s religious prohibition on nuclear weapons and had not decided to withdraw from the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty. He nevertheless suggested that future decisions would depend partly on Washington’s actions.

Qatar and Pakistan remain involved

Qatar has emerged as a central intermediary in the latest diplomatic effort, with Rezaei saying Tehran’s conditions had been passed to Washington through Doha.

Pakistan has also continued contacts with Iran. Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi was expected in Tehran, although Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said he was unaware of any specific American message or proposal being carried during the visit.

The negotiations are unfolding as the conflict increasingly affects neighbouring Gulf states and international shipping.

Saudi Arabia said on Saturday that it intercepted a Houthi ballistic missile targeting Riyadh, while the Houthis separately claimed attacks on Saudi targets. The reported escalation adds another complication to regional efforts to contain the conflict.

For now, Tehran says the next diplomatic move rests with Washington.

Whether Trump accepts any of Iran’s conditions, rejects them or proposes different terms has not yet been publicly established.