Washington: The United States is pressing Iran to issue a public statement confirming that the Strait of Hormuz remains open to commercial shipping and that vessels passing through the area will not be fired upon, according to a report by Axios citing three senior US officials.

The demand was reportedly communicated directly to Tehran and through regional mediators, with Washington expecting Iran to make its position clear following a meeting in Oman on Saturday.

A senior US official quoted by Axios said Iranian officials had reached out to Washington after recent maritime confrontations, seeking further talks and allegedly admitting that mistakes had been made. The official said some elements within Iran’s system appeared willing to continue negotiations, but added that Tehran must “get control of the situation.”

According to the report, US officials want Iran to publicly state that it will stop firing toward ships and acknowledge, either directly or indirectly, that the recent incidents were a mistake.

Washington is also demanding that Iran declare all shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz open without transit fees. The Strait is one of the world’s most important maritime passages, with a major share of global oil and gas shipments passing through the waterway.

A senior US official warned that there would be serious consequences if Iran failed to comply, saying: “If this will not be their position tomorrow, it will not be a good day for them.”