Iran's military spokesman declared that the Strait of Hormuz is under the strategic control of Iran's armed forces and will stay shut until Iran's conditions are fully met. Israel's N12 reported on October 28 that opening that waterway is one of the demands Tehran must meet to avoid a US strike.
Washington warned senior Iranian officials that a strike would go ahead unless Iran met three demands. Iran would have to ship its highly enriched uranium to the United States, halt all attacks across the region, including in the Strait of Hormuz, and open the waterway.
The window for a deal that would head off another war between Iran and both the United States and Israel is closing.
That day, Saudi outlet Al Arabiya reported that mediators were consulting Tehran about convening a meeting in Turkey before November 4. The proposed schedule reportedly included reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
On October 29, the Navy of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed that three oil tankers exploded after striking mines. The IRGC said the ships were on a southern route out of the strait that Tehran considers unauthorized.
