Iran has dramatically escalated tensions in the Persian Gulf by issuing a stringent set of conditions that must be fulfilled before the Strait of Hormuz can be reopened to normal shipping. The demands, released by the Supreme National Security Council—a body often likened to a politburo—were articulated by its secretary, Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, who also holds a senior command position in the Revolutionary Guard. The statement, carried by Iranian state media, insists that the United States must permanently cease any threats against Iran, end the war with Iran and its regional allies, lift the naval blockade of Iranian ports, and withdraw all military forces from the area. Additionally, Washington is required to provide full compensation for war-related damage, remove all sanctions, and unconditionally release Iran's frozen assets. There was no immediate response from the U.S. The Americans have sought a satisfactory agreement on the strait's management before ending the blockade. The interim deal signed in June had outlined a schedule for sanctions relief and compensation as part of a final agreement, with frozen assets also on the negotiating table. That 60-day window for a final deal is set to expire in just over a week, though an extension remains possible. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on Saturday that Tehran is close to a separate arrangement with Oman to oversee the waterway, including the designation of a transit route. However, he emphasized that reopening the strait hinges on additional conditions, blaming the current impasse on what he called U.S. violations of the interim accord. Oman, which has served as a mediator and has remained largely silent on the talks, issued a statement Saturday describing the discussions as proceeding in a positive and constructive atmosphere. The Omani government also condemned attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Before the war, the strait was widely regarded as an international waterway and is vital for global oil and natural gas supplies. Currently, vessel traffic remains minimal. Earlier on Saturday, authorities in the United Arab Emirates reported that a ship owned by Abu Dhabi's state-owned ADNOC oil and gas company was attacked while transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The UAE Foreign Ministry stated that Iran fired the missile as part of broader assaults on commercial shipping. ADNOC confirmed the attack occurred early Saturday but reported no casualties. The company noted that more than a dozen of its vessels have been hit by missiles or drones since the U.S.-led war on Iran began in February, with one crew member killed and 20 others wounded. ADNOC did not provide details on the attack's location or any damage. Separately, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Center reported that a vessel east of the Omani town of Khasab was struck by a projectile, causing a fire that was extinguished; the crew and vessel were safe. It remains unclear whether this incident is the same as the ADNOC attack. In a separate development, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan clarified that a defense pact signed Friday by Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey is not directed against any third party. The agreement stipulates that an attack on one signatory is considered an attack on all three. Fidan told Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency that the three countries do not view any state as an adversary unless it takes hostile action. He explained that a member requesting assistance would receive support ranging from intelligence sharing to logistics or military deployment. A secretariat for the mechanism will be based in Saudi Arabia. Fidan noted that other unnamed nations have expressed interest in joining, and he expects Egypt—described as a natural partner—to participate at a later stage. Meanwhile, Yemen's military launched strikes against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in response to recent Houthi attacks in central and eastern Yemen. Colonel Majed al-Nazili, a military spokesperson, said the strikes targeted rebel sites and capabilities across multiple front lines, without providing further specifics. The renewed hostilities between the Houthis and Yemen's internationally recognized government, backed by a Saudi-led coalition, threaten to unravel a 2022 truce and reignite the country's civil war. In Turkey, a draft law aimed at advancing a peace initiative with Kurdish insurgents cleared its first parliamentary hurdle on Saturday, winning approval in a committee. The measure is expected to be voted on by the full assembly next week. The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) declared last year that it would disarm and disband as part of the peace effort, which seeks to end a decades-long conflict that has claimed tens of thousands of lives. The proposed legislation outlines procedures for the group's disarmament and the rehabilitation of some PKK members, and it will take effect once Turkey's National Security Council confirms that the group has surrendered all weapons and disbanded. Turkey and its Western allies classify the PKK as a terrorist organization.