The United States is demanding that Iran make a public statement vowing to stop attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz and to keep all shipping lanes open without tolls, senior US officials said on Saturday.

The Strait of Hormuz is a strategic waterway through which roughly one-fifth of the world's oil supply typically flows. Iran has resisted giving up control of the strait.

"What we're demanding is that the Iranians issue a public statement that acknowledges all channels of the Strait of Hormuz are open and they're not shooting at ships anymore," one senior US official said in a conference call with reporters. "They're either going to give us that statement or we're not having a good outcome for them."

According to the officials, recent conversations between the two countries have been productive. Iran has told Washington that recent attacks on shipping were from "an errant part of their system," one official said, suggesting a power struggle between hardliners and pragmatists within Iran's government.

The US is also demanding that Iran turn over its nuclear materials as a fundamental condition of any deal. Tehran is believed to possess more than 900 pounds of highly enriched uranium, which US officials refer to as "nuclear dust."

"I just want to be clear here that if we don't get the dust, we do not have a deal with Iran," one official said.

The two countries signed a memorandum of understanding in June that set a 60-day period for negotiations on the nuclear issue. The official said the US has "a lot of options" if Iran refuses, including military and economic options.

"The president has directed us to talk but as he's shown a willingness to do, if they keep on shooting at ships or they engage on any other hostile acts, then we're going to hit 'em back," the official said.

Meanwhile, satellite imagery obtained by CNN suggests Iran may be rebuilding nuclear facilities during the ceasefire, potentially violating the memorandum it signed with the US. Images from nuclear and missile sites show construction activity, including efforts to repair damage at the Parchin facility where explosive material for nuclear bombs is believed to be held.

Source: Times of Israel