Iran’s Supreme National Security Council sets four-to-five-day ultimatum for US compliance on Strait of Hormuz

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council has drawn a line in the sand, or more precisely, in the water. SNSC Secretary Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr declared that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the United States meets Iran’s conditions within four to five days, refusing any negotiations until Washington acts first. The ultimatum, issued on August 8, 2026, comes with six demands that read less like opening bids in a negotiation and more like terms of surrender. The strait, which historically handles roughly one-fifth of all seaborne oil traffic globally, has become the centerpiece of a standoff that’s reshaping energy markets in real time. Six demands, zero flexibility Iran’s conditions span virtually every dimension of the US-Iran relationship. The full list: never threaten Iran again, end aggression against Iran and its allies, lift the maritime blockade and withdraw US forces from the region, fully compensate Iran for war damages, lift sanctions, and release frozen Iranian assets. Zolghadr made the framing explicit, stating that the Strait of Hormuz “will not be reopened until the US corrects its conduct.” The SNSC also emphasized that the strait’s reopening is entirely...