U.S. AND CENTCOM CONDITION END OF HORMUZ BLOCKADE ON PROVEN CESSATION OF ATTACKS AND BOARDINGS ON CIVILIAN SHIPS

U.S. AND CENTCOM CONDITION END OF HORMUZ BLOCKADE ON PROVEN CESSATION OF ATTACKS AND BOARDINGS ON CIVILIAN SHIPS

Performance-based doctrine demands an unrestricted nautical truce, fee exemptions, and a complete absence of new incidents as prerequisites for sanctions relief and naval drawdown.

The United States Government and U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reaffirmed, within the framework of diplomatic talks mediated by Oman, that any easing of the blockade on Iranian ports, sanctions relief, or naval drawdown in the Strait of Hormuz region will be strictly performance-based.

The official policy establishes that concessions and operational waivers will not be granted based on statements of intent. The de-escalation of the U.S. siege is strictly contingent upon the proven and auditable cessation of all attacks, boardings, or interference against civilian and commercial vessels in the international channel.

Core Pillars of the U.S. and CENTCOM Position:

 

Unrestricted Nautical Truce: Requirement for the immediate and absolute suspension of any armed assaults, missile or drone strikes (UAVs/USVs), route mining, boardings by fast attack craft, or attempts to seize merchant ships within the designated corridor.

Demand for Complete Absence of Incidents: The White House emphasized that initiating the relaxation of naval sanctions and authorizing operations at regional terminals requires practical verification of zero new attacks against commercial shipping.

Guaranteed Passage Free of Fees: Washington and CENTCOM formally declared that transit through the Strait of Hormuz must remain free of any toll collections, coercive fees, or discretionary authorization demands imposed unilaterally by Tehran.

Practical Audit for Reinstating Insurance Coverage: Guaranteeing maritime safety and halting aggression against civilian ships aims directly at meeting the requirements of Protection and Indemnity Clubs (P&I Clubs), enabling private vessels to resume operations along the route without prohibitive war-risk costs.

Impact on Negotiations

By strictly conditioning naval withdrawal on "performance-based" compliance, the United States and CENTCOM set the immunity of the neutral merchant fleet as a non-negotiable red line in the Muscat talks. The implementation of any test period or nautical truce will depend on the immediate halt of Iranian coercion in the channel, shifting the burden of stabilization onto military command in Tehran.