Iran's Hormuz Demands
Iran Declares "Era of One-Sided Deals Over" Amid US Strikes, Demanding Terms for Hormuz Access
Key Points
Ghalibaf's post on X included the line 'The era of one-sided deals is OVER. We told you: keep your word or pay the price. Reality is knocking,' signaling a direct personal warning to the United States.
U.S. Central Command reported striking around 140 Iranian targets with precision weapons, including missile and drone facilities, naval assets, ammunition depots, and coastal surveillance systems.
Despite the escalation, CENTCOM said commercial vessels continued to transit the Strait of Hormuz, indicating that not all traffic was halted even amid the near-daily exchanges of force and rhetoric.
Iranian authorities have not publicly released the full text of the 14-article memorandum of understanding, and independent verification of its terms remains unavailable, complicating external assessments of Tehran's conditions for Hormuz transit.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf issued a blunt warning to the United States this week, declaring that "the era of one-sided deals is OVER" and that any reopening of the Strait of Hormuz will happen only on Iran's terms. Times of Israel reported Ghalibaf posted on X: "Keep your word or pay the price. Reality is knocking."
The warning came as U.S. Central Command confirmed it had struck around 140 Iranian targets with precision weapons. Targets included missile and drone facilities, naval assets, and coastal surveillance systems. Despite the strikes, Kurdistan 24 reported that commercial vessels continued to transit the strait, meaning shipping was not fully halted.
Ghalibaf Ties Hormuz Access to Iran's MoU Conditions
Ghalibaf, who also serves as Iran's top nuclear negotiator with the U.S., linked any Hormuz reopening to a memorandum of understanding between the two countries. He specifically cited Article 5 of that MoU, saying Iran would only comply if the U.S. held up its end. Kurdistan 24 reported Tehran insists transit through the strait must resume under Iranian-set conditions, not unilateral American demands.
The full text of the 14-article MoU has not been publicly released by Iranian authorities. Independent experts cannot verify its terms. That secrecy makes it hard for outside observers to judge what Tehran is actually asking for, according to Kurdistan 24.
140 Iranian Targets Hit as U.S. Strikes Escalate
U.S. Central Command said it struck roughly 140 Iranian targets using precision weapons. The strikes hit missile stockpiles, drone launch sites, naval vessels, and ammunition depots. Iran framed the attacks as aggression and vowed to defend its interests. Both sides accused the other of dangerous and one-sided escalation.
World News reported that the strikes followed a pattern of near-daily exchanges of force and rhetoric between Washington and Tehran. Iran said it would continue to pressure the strait in response. Ghalibaf used social media to make the warnings personal and public, directing his message squarely at U.S. leaders.
Hormuz Remains Open — But Tehran Keeps the Pressure On
Even amid the standoff, commercial ships kept moving through the Strait of Hormuz. CENTCOM confirmed that traffic was not fully stopped. The strait is one of the world's most critical shipping lanes. About 20% of global oil passes through it. Any real closure would send energy prices soaring worldwide.
Bloomingbit reported that Ghalibaf urged all parties to honor their commitments or face consequences. Analysts say the standoff reflects a persistent strategic deadlock. Iran uses Hormuz as leverage. The U.S. uses military force as a counter. Neither side has blinked, and the dispute shows no sign of resolution.
What This Means for U.S.-Iran Diplomacy Going Forward
Tehran's repeated messaging — from Ghalibaf's social media posts to official statements — signals that Iran wants reciprocal commitments, not one-way concessions. The phrase "era of one-sided deals" has become a rallying line for Iranian officials. It suggests Tehran believes past agreements favored Washington and that it will no longer accept that dynamic.
Times of Israel noted that Ghalibaf holds a dual role: parliament speaker and lead negotiator. That gives his warnings unusual weight. With 140 targets already struck and the MoU's terms still secret, both sides appear locked in a high-stakes game over who controls the world's most important oil chokepoint.
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