US demands Iran declare Strait of Hormuz open today or face 'severe consequences'

Senior U.S. officials briefed overnight that Washington is demanding Iran declare by today that the Strait of Hormuz remains open to traffic and cease attacks, or face 'severe consequences,' according to a single report. The officials also said pessimism is growing within the administration over the prospects of reaching a nuclear deal with the Iranian regime.

Senior U.S. officials briefed overnight that Washington is escalating its pressure on Tehran, demanding a public declaration by today that the Strait of Hormuz is open to maritime traffic and that attacks on shipping cease — or the regime will face 'severe consequences,' according to a single report by journalist Asaf Rozentzweig (N12).

The same officials expressed growing pessimism within the administration about the prospects of reaching a nuclear agreement with Iran, according to the report.

This follows a series of U.S. demands over the past 24 hours. As The Zioneer reported at 00:12 Saturday, Washington issued an ultimatum for Iran to publicly commit to ending Hormuz attacks within 24 hours. At 04:20, the U.S. demanded a formal declaration reopening the strait. The current briefing appears to harden that timeline to 'today' and adds the explicit threat of consequences.

The Strait of Hormuz has been effectively disrupted since early June, with Iran blocking or harassing tanker traffic. The U.S. has sought a public Iranian acknowledgment of freedom of navigation, while negotiations over a broader nuclear deal have stalled. The reported pessimism over a nuclear accord suggests the two tracks — Hormuz and the nuclear file — may be diverging.

4 developments

1. 20 minutes ago · 09:13 · 11 JulLatest

   U.S. demands specific guarantees for freedom of navigation in the Strait.

2. 08:44 · 11 Jul

   Administration officials express growing pessimism regarding prospects for an Iran nuclear deal.

3. 07:38 · 11 Jul

   US threatens 'severe consequences' and reports growing pessimism on nuclear deal.

• Strong09:24 · 26 JunIran warns Oman it cannot guarantee Strait of Hormuz security without Tehran's approval, according to source
• Confirmed20:10 · 2 JulReport: US presses Iran to drop Strait of Hormuz toll demand; Tehran unmoved
• Strong14:40 · 2 JulIran issues new direct threat to US over Strait of Hormuz, warns of 'immediate' retaliation
• Developing20:25 · 30 JunReport: Oman submits formal Strait of Hormuz proposal to US

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