Iran issued a sweeping set of demands on Saturday for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, insisting the United States must "correct its behavior" before the critical waterway resumes normal operations. The strait, through which roughly a fifth of globally consumed oil normally passes, has become the central pressure point in a regional conflict reshaping security alignments across the Middle East. Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates reported that one of its vessels was struck by an Iranian missile in the strait, Yemen's military launched attacks against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, and Turkey's parliament advanced a landmark Kurdish peace bill.

Iran's Supreme National Security Council Sets Conditions

Iran's Supreme National Security Council declared that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the United States meets a series of stringent conditions, according to a statement published by Iran's state broadcaster. The statement was attributed to the council's secretary, Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, who also serves as a commander in the Revolutionary Guard.

The demands include a commitment that the United States will never threaten Iran again, a permanent end to the war with Iran and its armed allies in the region, the lifting of the naval blockade on Iranian ports, and a full withdrawal of U.S. military forces from the area. Additionally, the U.S. must "completely compensate" Iran for war damage, lift all sanctions, and "unconditionally" release frozen Iranian assets.

There was no immediate response from Washington. The United States has previously insisted on reaching an acceptable agreement on the strait before ending its blockade.

Status of Negotiations

Under the interim deal signed in June, a timeline for lifting sanctions and a framework for compensation were to be addressed as part of a final agreement, with negotiations also covering frozen assets. The current 60-day window for negotiating a final deal expires in just over a week, though it could be extended.

Iran has indicated it is nearing a separate arrangement with Oman to jointly manage the strait, which lies between the two nations. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said earlier Saturday that the two countries were close to an agreement on navigation, "specifically the determination of a transit route." However, he cautioned that the waterway's reopening depends on other conditions being met, attributing the impasse to what he described as the U.S. violation of the interim deal.

Oman, which has served as a mediator and maintained a relatively low profile throughout the talks, released a statement Saturday describing the discussions as ongoing "in a positive and constructive atmosphere" and condemning attacks on commercial vessels in the strait.

The strait was recognized as an international waterway before the conflict began. Ship transits through the passage remain at low levels, keeping global energy markets on edge as the negotiating window narrows.

UAE Vessel Attacked in the Strait

Emirati authorities reported early Saturday that a vessel owned by Abu Dhabi's state-owned ADNOC oil and gas company was attacked while transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The UAE Foreign Ministry attributed the missile strike to Iran, characterizing it as part of a broader campaign of attacks on commercial shipping.

ADNOC confirmed in a statement that there were no casualties in the early Saturday attack. The company noted that more than a dozen of its vessels have been targeted by missiles and drones in the strait since the United States and Israel launched the war on Iran in February. According to ADNOC, one crew member has been killed and 20 others wounded in those attacks. The company did not provide details on the location of the latest incident or the extent of any damage.

Later in the day, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Center reported that a vessel east of the town of Khasab, Oman, had been hit by a projectile that ignited a fire. The blaze was extinguished, and both the vessel and its crew were reported safe. It remained unclear whether this was the same incident involving the ADNOC vessel.

Saudi-Pakistan-Turkey Defense Pact

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan clarified on Saturday that the defense agreement signed Friday by Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey is not directed at any third country. The pact stipulates that an attack on one signatory would be considered an attack on all three — a formulation that introduces a new mutual defense framework in a region already crisscrossed by competing security alliances and rival coalitions.

Speaking to Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency, Fidan said the three nations do not regard any state as an adversary unless it takes hostile action against them. "We don't have anything written down — nothing we've signed — that defines a common threat," he said.

Asked about the operational mechanics of the mutual defense arrangement, Fidan explained that a member state would formally request assistance, and the other two countries could provide support ranging from intelligence-sharing and logistics to the deployment of military units. He added that the mechanism would establish a secretariat based in Saudi Arabia.

Fidan noted that other unidentified nations have expressed interest in joining the agreement and said he expects Egypt, which he described as a "natural partner," to participate "at the next stage."

Yemen: Military Escalation Against Houthis

Yemen's internationally recognized military launched attacks against the country's Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in response to the group's recent strikes in central and eastern Yemen. Col. Majed al-Nazili, spokesperson for Yemen's military, said the operations targeted the rebels' "sites and capabilities" across multiple front lines but did not provide further details.

The escalation between the Houthis and Yemen's internationally recognized government — backed by a Saudi-supported coalition — threatens to reignite the country's civil war, which has been largely held in check by a 2022 truce. A breakdown of that ceasefire would add another layer of instability to a region already contending with the Strait of Hormuz crisis, as the Houthis have previously demonstrated the ability to disrupt shipping in adjacent Red Sea routes.

Turkey Advances Kurdish Peace Legislation

A Turkish draft law designed to advance a peace process with the country's Kurdish insurgents cleared its first legislative hurdle on Saturday when a parliamentary committee approved the measure. It is expected to go before the general assembly for a vote next week.

Last year, the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, announced its decision to disarm and disband as part of a peace initiative aimed at resolving the decades-long conflict with the Turkish state. The draft legislation outlines procedures for the group's disarmament and the rehabilitation of certain PKK members. The measures would take effect once Turkey's National Security Council confirms that the PKK has fully disbanded and surrendered all weapons.

The conflict between Turkey and the PKK has claimed tens of thousands of lives since it began in the 1980s. Turkey and its Western allies classify the group as a terrorist organization. If enacted, the legislation would mark Turkey's most significant step toward ending an insurgency that has shaped its domestic politics and security posture for four decades — and could free Ankara to redirect attention toward the rapidly shifting alliances taking shape across the region.