Iran Warns Regional Infrastructure Is Not Safe While Waiting for U.S. Reply on Hormuz

Iran threatened new attacks on West Asian infrastructure on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, as it waits for a formal response from Washington regarding a proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Threats And Demands

Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stated that no infrastructure in the region will stay safe if the country lacks security, adding that no one else will sell oil in a region where Iran cannot sell its own. U.S. President Donald Trump has already rejected Tehran's proposal. However, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi mentioned on Monday, September 28, 2026, that he expected a formal reply from American officials soon. Qatari intermediaries shared ideas in New York, where Mr. Araghchi met U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner last week.

The Blockade

Iran has blocked commercial shipping through the strait since the war began in late February due to U.S.-Israeli strikes on the country. The waterway handled a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas before the conflict. In response, the U.S. military has blocked Iranian ports to stop oil exports, while relying on economic pressure instead of major military actions as fighting slowed down recently. Tehran demands a seven-day ceasefire across West Asia, including Lebanon where Israel bombards Hezbollah, along with unfreezing foreign assets, lifting oil sanctions, and ending the U.S. naval blockade before it ends the shipping ban.

Disputed Passage

While the U.S. maintains that oil moves through the strait, Iran's Revolutionary Guards insist the route remains shut. Spokesperson Hossein Mohebi stated that sneaking a few barrels of oil through at night does not mean the waterway is open. He noted that a truly open strait involves at least 125 vessels passing daily to carry a minimum of 20 million barrels of oil and petroleum products, while any ship trying to pass now gets hit or damaged by a mine.

Context

The Strait of Hormuz is a crucial narrow water passage between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, serving as the main oil transit route for major Middle Eastern producers. Tensions in this maritime corridor routinely trigger global energy market volatility and push up fuel prices worldwide. Diplomatic efforts involving regional mediators like Qatar often attempt to bridge deep gaps between Washington and Tehran during active military conflicts.