U.S. Presses Iran for Public Hormuz Ship-Attack Pledge

U.S. officials demanded that Iran make a public pledge that the Strait of Hormuz is open and that commercial ships will no longer be attacked after this week's fire on Qatari and Saudi tankers. They tied any nuclear deal to Tehran honoring the ceasefire and turning over highly enriched uranium, while Iranian officials insisted activity in the strait rests with Tehran and disputed Washington-linked accounts of the talks. The demand keeps maritime security, nuclear rollback and Iran's internal power struggle linked. For Israel, Tehran cannot be allowed to use a global energy chokepoint to rebuild leverage after Israeli and American strikes.