The Iranian demands contradict each other — and there is not a word about the nuclear issue

Contacts between Iran and the US, alongside talks between Oman and Iran, are not maturing into an agreement or even a memorandum — at least not at this stage. This is what three diplomatic sources familiar with the talks tell "HaYom".

The United States has accepted the principles of the draft agreement between Oman and Iran, as well as the conditions that Iran demands in exchange for stopping its attacks on tankers and ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. According to the sources, the Oman-Iran agreement does not meet the fundamental demand of the US and the Gulf states regarding completely free movement in the strait, and the mentioned restrictions also contradict international law.

The gaps between Iranian demands

In addition, the Iranian demands raised through mediators differ from those brought directly between Abbas Araghchi and the American envoy Witkoff. The written demands are stricter and raise the price that Iran is setting.

They include the rapid unfreezing of a significant portion of funds, the removal of the American fleet, and commitments, backed by international resolutions, that fighting will not be renewed. They contain no reference to the nuclear issue or other concerns raised by the US.

Conversely, in direct contacts, Iran's political echelon insists on the terms of the previous memorandum of understanding: the start of unfreezing funds alongside the full opening of the strait for 60 days of negotiations, with all issues on the table. Given these demands and the gaps in positions, it does not seem that an agreement will be reached soon.

Meanwhile, Vice President J.D. Vance and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirm reports published in recent days. Vance, who is in charge of negotiations with Iran, confirmed that Iran has waived, at least for the period of the negotiations, the original demand for collecting transit fees in the Strait of Hormuz.

The plan to bypass the Strait of Hormuz

Secretary Bessent confirmed contacts for building pipelines to transport oil and gas from the Gulf towards the Mediterranean to bypass Hormuz.

"The strait will never return to the state it was in before, because the Iranians used it as a choke point. What we are going to see in the next two years is the strait becoming irrelevant. More than 50 or 70% of the energy that passes through the strait now is going to pass through underground pipelines," said the US Treasury Secretary.

Israel is conducting contacts with several Gulf states regarding the laying of such pipelines, which would reach from the Gulf to the Mediterranean through Israel. There are several other routes, most not through Israel. One route goes north, through Iraq towards Syria. The Iraqi government announced it has signed with American companies, including Chevron, for the construction of this pipeline.

It should be noted that before the establishment of the state, there was an oil pipeline from Iraq to Haifa, which operated for 14 years. Meanwhile, in Iran, resentment is growing over frequent power outages, rationing of oil for transportation, and water shortages. Internal criticism is also growing within the corridors of government.

Reports published by various government ministries claim that the continuation of the current situation will soon lead to the paralysis of most government operations. One interesting call was heard in an Iranian newspaper identified with the reformist stream, stating that it is necessary to check where the money went from oil sales during the days the strait was open after the memorandum of understanding. According to estimates, Iran sold oil worth 20 billion dollars, but government ministries and the official state treasury received almost nothing from this amount.