WANA (Aug 12) – Iran’s latest official position, announced by the Supreme National Security Council, signals a broader strategic decision in Tehran to move beyond the framework of the “Islamabad Memorandum.” The new position significantly raises Iran’s demands and sets a higher threshold for any potential agreement.

 

Under the newly stated framework, Iran has laid out the following conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz: “The Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the United States accepts Iran’s conditions, including an end to the wars in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran, as well as the release of Iran’s frozen funds.”

 

Mohsen Rezaei

Rezaei: US Must End the War and Release Iran’s Frozen Assets

WANA (Aug 11) – Mohsen Rezaei, Iran’s Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, said the United States must end the war, release Iran’s frozen assets and bring an end to fighting across the region, including in Lebanon and Gaza.   Speaking during a meeting with Chinese Ambassador Zong Peiwu, Rezaei said the United States […]

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This new position represents a strategic shift from the logic of the Islamabad Memorandum for several reasons:

 

1. Moving beyond the “Strait closure in exchange for lifting the U.S. naval blockade” formula

Under the Islamabad Memorandum, Iran was expected to facilitate the safe passage of ships in return for the lifting of the U.S. naval blockade. Iran’s latest position, however, no longer treats the lifting of the blockade as a temporary concession. Instead, it calls for a complete end to the war and the release of all frozen Iranian assets.

 

This indicates that Iran is no longer prepared to trade one of its most strategically important instruments for a temporary military concession by its adversary.

 

2. Explicitly adding Gaza to the equation

While Article 1 of the Islamabad Memorandum referred to the cessation of military operations on “all fronts, including Lebanon,” it made no explicit reference to Gaza. The new Iranian position, however, specifically identifies an end to the war in Gaza as an additional condition.

A woman holds an Iranian flag next to a billboard threatening U.S. President Donald Trump is displayed on a building in Tehran, Iran, July 18, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)

The change signals Iran’s intention to alter the existing equation and increase the cost of any new agreement for Washington.

 

The firm shift in position, announced on the first working day of the new secretary of the Supreme National Security Council and reportedly likely to have come under a direct directive from Iran’s highest levels of authority, carries a clear message: following the other side’s breach of its commitments, Iran will not return to the previous terms. Instead, it intends to use its stronger position on the ground to raise its demands for any new understanding.

 

Raising these conditions represents a step toward advancing Iran’s interests. However, their real significance will depend on whether Iran’s diplomatic apparatus can also adapt to this new and more assertive approach, avoid repeating past shortcomings, and firmly establish these conditions as the basis for any future negotiations—and ultimately secure a concrete outcome.